Category: Blog

Blog

The clock and an impending crisis: The Elizabeth Tower, Big Ben and the Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster

Post author By psaparliaments
Post date September 20, 2017

August was filled with newspaper stories about the repair works to Parliament’s Elizabeth Tower, and the temporary silencing of the chimes of Big Ben. In a blog originally posted on the PSA Insights blog, PSA Parliaments Communications Officer, Alexandra Meakin, argues that this media coverage poses a concern for the future of the Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster programme.

Tags Big Ben, Palace of Westminster, restoration and renewal, UK Parliament, Westminster

Blog

Smile or smirk? Why non-verbal behaviour matters in parliamentary select committees

Post author By psaparliaments
Post date September 13, 2017

When witnesses appear before select committees, Hansard records their words – but not their expressions. In a blog originally posted on Democratic Audit, Cheryl Schonhardt-Bailey (LSE), analysed nonverbal behaviour in 12 economic policy committee hearings, including some in which George Osborne gave evidence. In some of the hearings with Osborne, he appears to be smirking; in others, his smiles appear genuine. She argues that gestures, expressions and tone may be pivotal in whether a policymaker’s arguments are accepted.

Tags Behaviour, House of Commons, scrutiny, select committees, UK Parliament

Blog

A tale of two Houses? Post-legislative Scrutiny in the House of Commons and House of Lords

Post author By psaparliaments
Post date September 6, 2017

As the House of Commons returns this week, Tom Caygill discusses the different approaches the two Houses of Parliament take to undertaking post-legislative scrutiny.

Tags House of Commons, House of Lords, post-legislative scrutiny, scrutiny, Westminster

Blog

Legislation at Westminster – and how parliament matters more than many people think

Post author By psaparliaments
Post date August 24, 2017

The Westminster parliament is famous throughout the world, but often presented as relatively non-influential when it comes to making the law. Meg Russell and Daniel Gover‘s new book Legislation at Westminster is the most detailed study of the British legislative process for over 40 years, and challenges these assumptions. In a blog originally posted on the Constitution Unit, the authors summarise their findings on how different groups of actors at Westminster exercise subtle and interconnected influence, contributing to what they dub ‘six faces of parliamentary power’.

Tags House of Commons, House of Lords, legislation, power, scrutiny, select committees

Blog

The Remainers who now chair select committees will harry the government over Brexit

Post author By psaparliaments
Post date July 26, 2017

The new cohort of select committee chairs will be scrutinising the work of a weakened government, write Mark Goodwin, Stephen Bates and our PSA Parliaments Co-Convener, Marc Geddes in a blog originally posted on Democratic Audit. Nine of the 28 are women, reflecting the advantage female MPs enjoy when they stand for committee elections. The current line-up also includes some well-known figures who have clashed with their party leaderships, creating an intriguing new dynamic.

Tags committee chairs, House of Commons, scrutiny, select committees

Blog

The report of the Scottish Parliamentary Reform Commission: Westminster as a model for reforming Holyrood?

Post author By psaparliaments
Post date July 19, 2017

The Scottish Parliament’s Commission on Parliamentary Reform, established by the Presiding Officer last year, reported in June. Its recommendations include that committee conveners should be elected by the whole Parliament, changes to First Minister’s Questions, the extension of the legislative process from three stages to five and the establishment of a new backbench committee. In a post originally posted on the Constitution Unit blog, Ruxandra Serban summarises the report and notes that several of the most substantive recommendations would bring the Scottish Parliament’s procedures closer to those of the House of Commons.

Tags Holyrood, parliamentary reform, Scotland, Scottish Parliament

Blog

Every picture tells a story

Post author By psaparliaments
Post date July 12, 2017

The extent to which legislation can change in parliament poses challenges to effective scrutiny by legislators and wider society. In this post Ruth M. Dixon and Jonathan A. Jones visualise the amendments to three recent bills to reveal the political drama of the parliamentary process.

Tags Amendments, House of Commons, House of Lords, legislation, legislative scrutiny

Blog

The Contenders for Select Committee Chairs, 2017 edition

Post author By psaparliaments
Post date July 10, 2017

Following the early General Election, all House of Commons select committees have had to be reconstituted. Marc Geddes, Co-Convenor of the PSA Parliaments Group, looks ahead to this week’s elections for Committee Chairs.

Tags House of Commons, select committees

Blog

EU referendum: one year on – MPs

Post author By psaparliaments
Post date July 5, 2017

How easy will it be for the Prime Minister to pass Brexit legislation through Parliament without a majority in either House? Prof Philip Cowley explores the prospects of rebellion among Conservative MPs, in a blog originally posted by UK in a Changing Europe.

Tags House of Commons, MPs, Rebellions, Votes