Evaluate the effectiveness of representatives in representing the interests of their constituents

Intro Define representatives – MPs/backbenchers Talk about the idea that Parliament is dominated by the government and so normal backbenchers are limited in their abilities to represent constituents

Pressures on MPs The Whip – talk about the limited possibilities for MPs to go against their parties if they want to get promotion themselves. The physical layout of parliament, and the fact hat MPs have to walk through lobbies to vote. Pressure of whips can be persuasive and threatening However – the Conservatives in the past tended to be most party loyal, but since 2010 this has changed. New intake MPs have been much more critical of their own government, and have made high profile stands against government policy – particularly on issues relating to Europe. In 2015 new MP Heidi Allen took a stand against the gov’s plans to scrap tax credits The most famous example of a Conservative who is more dedicated to open democracy than party loyalty is David Davis. He was a Conservative Shadow Minister, but resigned his post in order to take a stand for open debate and discussion.

Power of individual MPs can depend on the strength of the government The size of the government majority can affect the relative power that individual MPs have – when the government is strong then individual MPs have traditionally had less power to influence its actions. Coalition government has affected the relative power of MPs. Lib Dems have had to compromise most on their beliefs, and in order to be viable coalition members they have had to be loyal. The Conservatives have been most rebellious. Labour have very little power as opposition, but have been more party loyal – but then, their job is to oppose, so easier to maintain party loyalty. Under Blair, huge majority, but the Blair Labour Party did prove to heave a large number of rebellions – though only of a relatively small number of MPs - typically Jeremy Corbyn, so it was never a threat to the majority

Conservative Government 2015 The Conservatives have a majority – which was not expected before the election, but it is very small. We can see examples of wavering influence here. On the one hand, following the election, MPs could see that David Cameron was probably more popular across the country than the Conservative Party itself, and in the period following an election there is a “honeymoon period”, where MPs are traditionally more loyal, as the leader is seen to have a mandate. However, this wore off pretty quickly, and there have been controversial issues where individual MPs have taken a stand – like on Tax Credits. Even more significant has been the European question. David Cameron had to say that MPs and Cabinet Ministers were allowed to treat this as a matter of conscience and campaign however they wanted on it, as he couldn’t hold the party together. This shows that MPs have more opportunity to be independent of their party and think more about what their local constituency needs in terms of EU membership. So again, ability of MPs to represent, can depend on the strength of the government and the particular political issues facing the country. When an issue is big enough to split a political party, individual MPs have more power to make choices.

How representative are MPs? Microcosmic Representation – the idea that Parliament should be a microcosm of society. Lack of women Ethnic minorities Disabled people Socio-economic class - education levels How does Westminster do in terms of microcosmic representation? Why is a microcosm important?

Opportunities to scrutinise/hold gov to account MPs/MSPs representing constituents by questioning government policy Select Committees Question Time Adjournment Debates etc Urgent Questions Use of the media/public profile

Opportunities to represent by passing laws Limited if MP is in opposition – supply days Backbench Business Committee has been in place since 2010, it decides on the agenda for 35 days in the Parliamentary year Gov control most of Parliamentary calendar

Some MPs are just better than others Some MPs are better at representing, because some MPs just work harder. They may be more committed to their constituency, getting out and seeing people, holding regular surgeries. Whereas some MPs may do very little. Former Conservative MP Malcolm Rifkind was caught in a sting operation by Channel 4 in February 2015 saying that he has very little to do as part of his job.

So many different groups to represent Because MPs represent constituencies, they have to think about individual citizens, groups within the constituency, and the good of the country, possibly even the wider good of humanity. Sometimes all of these interests could collide, and so an MP has to make a choice, and may seem to some in the constituency that he/she is not representing them, when in fact they have made a difficult decision, weighing up all of the competing factions (this is before they even think about their own career and the good of the party they are in) For example, the issue of fracking, or a nuclear power station, it might bring energy security to the country, and jobs to an area, but it might cause environmental damage, and affect an individual in the local area’s property. It is a difficult decision for an MP.

2015 election Women This election has brought more women to Parliament, and more ethnic minority representatives. Women MPs now make up 29% of the new House of Commons – up from 22% in 2010. Women have really taken a front of stage role in the election – Nicola Sturgeon leading the way. 43% of Labour MPs and 36% of SNP MPs are female. (However we are still far behind other countries- like Sweden which has 45% female Parliament) Some high profile women MPs in the new Parliament Mhairi Black, SNP – 20 year old Student from Paisley. Naz Shah, Labour – feminist and mental health campaigner who escaped from a forced marriage in Pakistan. Jo Cherry, SNP – lawyer, Scotland’s first specialist sex crime prosecutor

Ethnic Minorities Now 6% of Parliament (up from 4.2%) 42 ethnic minority MPs, including the first Chinese MP, Alan Mak (Con)

Educational background 25% of Parliament come from a privately educated background – as opposed to 7% of the population of the country. In 2010 more than half of Con MPs went to private schools – that is now down to 40%. Labour is down to 11% privately educated. 427 out of the 650 MPs went to university – and 31% of them went to either Oxford or Cambridge.