The House of Lords: A Complex Check on Government Power

The House of Lords plays a crucial role in the UK's system of parliamentary scrutiny, offering a different approach to holding the government to account compared to the House of Commons.

Key Functions of the House of Lords:

• Scrutinizing bills before they become law
• Ability to delay the legislative process
• Forcing the government to reconsider and amend proposed legislation

Highlight: The House of Lords can debate issues in a less politically biased manner than the more confrontational House of Commons, as no party holds a majority.

Strengths in Government Accountability:

• Power to delay or amend laws they disagree with
• Ability to force cross-party support for legislation

Example: In January 2022, the government faced defeats in the House of Lords over its plans to restrict disruptive protests in the Crime and Justice Bill, demonstrating the chamber's ability to challenge government proposals.

Limitations and Controversies:

• The Prime Minister has the power to appoint new members
• Accusations of "cronyism" in appointments
• Concerns about the growing size of the chamber (over 800 members)

Quote: SNP MP Pete Wishart criticized the Prime Minister, saying he was giving "jobs for life to friends and those who have done him favours."

Example: The appointment of Jo Johnson, the Prime Minister's brother, to the House of Lords raised questions about the impartiality of the appointment process.

While the House of Lords provides an important check on government power, concerns about its composition and appointment process may limit its effectiveness in thoroughly scrutinizing the government.

Prime Minister's Questions: A Limited Tool for Accountability

Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) serves as a weekly opportunity for Members of Parliament to directly question the Prime Minister, potentially serving as an important mechanism for holding the government to account.

Definition: PMQs occur every Wednesday from 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM, where the Prime Minister answers questions from MPs in the House of Commons.

While PMQs offer a platform for scrutiny, their effectiveness is debated:

Strengths:

• Allows MPs to address recent issues and accusations
• The Prime Minister is obliged to respond to questions

Limitations:

• Short duration limits in-depth questioning
• Prime Minister can sometimes evade direct answers
• Questions are often known in advance, allowing for prepared responses

Example: In December 2021, Labour leader Keir Starmer confronted Boris Johnson about alleged lockdown-breaking parties, demonstrating how PMQs can be used to address high-profile controversies.

Highlight: The confrontational nature of PMQs can sometimes overshadow substantive debate, as seen when SNP leader Ian Blackford was removed for using the word "misleading" instead of receiving a direct answer from the Prime Minister.

While PMQs provide a visible form of accountability, their limited scope and potential for evasion reduce their overall effectiveness in thoroughly scrutinising the government.