All Questions
Tagged with united-kingdom house-of-commons
104
questions
4
votes
1
answer
613
views
Is it plausible for the UK opposition to be led by a lord?
There are multiple polls predicting bad outcomes for the Tories in the coming UK general election. The worst of these, Savanta/Telegraph predicts them ending up as the 2nd largest party with 53 seats,...
19
votes
1
answer
4k
views
If Boris Johnson returns as an MP, would he have to serve the 90-day suspension for lying to Parliament?
Parliament has accepted the partygate report, which investigated whether Boris Johnson misled parliament. The report recommended a 90-day suspension and that he should be denied a former member's pass ...
7
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Boris Johnson Partygate Report: What are the possible consequences for Johnson?
As I type this, the debate is ongoing over Boris Johnson, deciding whether or not to accept the Partygate report's findings.
The report suggests a 90-day suspension, possibly triggering a by-election, ...
11
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Why did members who wanted to raise a point of order during a division have to wear a top hat while talking in the House of Commons in the UK?
I read on https://notesfromtheuk.com/2019/07/05/hats-and-the-house-of-commons/:
Anyone who wanted to raise a point of order during a division (which in the normal world would be called a vote) had to ...
8
votes
0
answers
291
views
What is the origin of the 'no photography' rule in the House of Commons?
While reading through Hansard to research a separate question, I came across the following exchange:
Mr Speaker: Order. Someone has flashed a camera. It is quite serious to take photographs in the ...
11
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How uncommon is it for a Prime Minister not to respond to an urgent question themselves?
Quite a lot has been made of Liz Truss not attending the House of Commons to answer an urgent question from the Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer on her decision to replace the Chancellor of the ...
6
votes
1
answer
307
views
What are the advantages for the Government of presenting policy in a general debate rather than as a ministerial statement?
The i news this morning says that Liz Truss plans to unveil her plan to attempt to tackle the energy crisis in Britain:
Liz Truss will outline the Government’s plan to save households and businesses ...
10
votes
1
answer
878
views
What do the despatch boxes in the British House of Commons contain?
In the British House of Commons there are two "despatch boxes" on the table at which the prime minister, the leader of the opposition, and other front bench ministers and shadow ministers ...
6
votes
2
answers
333
views
What is the fastest that an MP has broken a three-line whip?
Traditionally, newly elected MPs are considered less likely to rebel against their party whip; something that Ros Taylor from LSE describes as a combination of the 'coattails effect', inexperience, ...
18
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Is there a hierarchy in how you refer to a UK MP? If so could you use a lower ranked one as an insult?
In the UK when MPs are debating in the Commons, they often (because of archaic rules) refer to each other as "the right honourable Member", "the Leader of the Opposition" or "...
5
votes
0
answers
122
views
Examples of unchallenged repetition in a Commons filibuster
In a BBC article explaining the Private Members' Bill ballot, the "art of filibustering" is described. It differs from a filibuster in the US Senate in that participants must actually talk ...
20
votes
2
answers
2k
views
House of Commons clarification on clapping
From my current understanding, MP's are not allowed to clap in the House of Commons. Instead, they say (or shout) "hear" to express themselves.
However, after having watched this video, I've ...
6
votes
1
answer
452
views
What does defeat on the Address mean?
What's the "Address"?
Queen’s Speech | The Institute for Government
It is rare for the government to be defeated on the address in the Commons – as governments usually have a majority in ...
12
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Can the oath to the monarch be "honestly" removed in the British Parliament
In Britain, members of Parliament must swear an Oath of Allegiance to the Queen (or the current Monarch).
Is there a mechanism by which this requirement could be removed? Presumably such a proposition ...
6
votes
1
answer
221
views
What are the possible steps for No. 10 to remove Julian Lewis from the position of chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee?
MP Grayling was defeated in the Prime Minister's attempt to make him the chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee today. I've seen speculation (unsourced) that the Prime Minister and Number 10 ...