8.4 The role of an MP
The representative
ratherthan delegates(seeCh 1.2).
MPs are representatives
Most MPs hold regularsurgeriesin orderto deal with
constituencyissuesand gaugeopinion. SomeMPs (suchas
the PrimeMinisterand membersof the government)may
as
their constituents
havedifficultyin representing
due to the demandson their time. Others(such
effectively,
might be restrictedin
as the Speakerand Deputy Speakers)
what they can say due to the natureof their jobs.Voterscan
removeMPs throughthe ballot box, but in realitymost MPs
owe their positionsmore to thosewho selectedthem as their
party'scandidate.Few MPs havesufficientpersonalsupport
to be electedwithout the partv label (MartinBell in 1997
and Dr RichardTaylorin 200'l being recentexceptions)and
many can be saidto havebeen electedpurelydue to their
The loyal party drone
Most MPs are electedby virtue of the party labelthat
they carryduringthe election.lt is logical,therefore,the
partieswould argue,that MPs shouldtoe the party line
To this end the partywhips (seeCh
once in Parliament.
e P s .S u c hM P s
6 . 3 )c a i o l ea n d p u n i s ht r o u b l e s o mM
mieht find their chancesof promotionlimited.Those
ignorethe whips might havethe whip
thal persistentty
This effectivelythrowsthe MP out ol the
rvithdrarvn.
partyand leavesthem vulnerableto deparliamentary
SomeMPs chooseto
constituency'
in
their
selection
resignthe whip or even cTossthe floor of the Houseand
join anotherparty by takingthat party'swhip. They can
do this rvithoutseekingre-electionbecause- in theory
not
the
elected,
they are
Party.
The local trouble-shooter
The watchdog
T r a d i t i o n a l lM
y ,P sw i t h i n P a r l i a m e nhta v eh a d
accountable
the role of holdingSovernment
throughthe variousdebates,committees,
P r i m eM i n i s t e r 'asn d M i n i s t e r sQ' u e s t i o n a
snd
- ultimatell,- by votingon governmentbills.
T h i si s c r u c i a l ,b u t a g o v e r n m e nut s u a l l yh a sa
big enoughmajorityto over-riderebellions
and MPs,controlledby whips, are oftentoo
fearfulto act as a watchdog,particularlyin the
age of the 'careerpolitician'(seebelow).
Thoughthere havealwaysbeen MPs who
p r i o r i t i s teh i s r o l e( T o n yB e n na n d D e n n i s
S k i n n e rf,o r e x a m p l e )i,n d i v i d u a lssu c ha s t h e
P a r l i a m e n t aC
r yo m m i s s i o n earn d b o d i e ss u c h
as the PublicAccountsCommitteeprobably
l Ps.
c a r r ym o r ew e i g h tt h a n i n d i v i d u aM
or not MPs ever
of r,vhether
Regardless
follow the views of their constituents
ratherthan the partywhips, all MPs play
a n i m p o r t a nrt o l e i n t r o u b l e - s h o o t i n g
lvithin their constituencyand representing
facing
of constituents
the interests
problemseitherwithin the constituencyor
abroad.ln 2002, for example,MPs were
on behalf
at work makingrepresentations
of the Britishplane spottersarrestedand
chargedin Creece.MPs can also
intervenein disputesbetweenconstltuents
and local governmentbodies.Many MPs
alsoiind that domesticproblemsare
This
broughtto their surgeries.
role has seensome MPs
troubleshooting
describedas glorifiedsocialworkers.
The legislator
power over
Fora bill to becomean act, it mustbe passedthroughthe Houseof Commons.As a result,MPs havetotal
pressureto contorm'
under
are
noted,
have
already
we
as
MPs,
is
far
diiierent.
horvever,
the
situation
In
reality,
legislation.
of the.recent
partiamentary
debatescan be cut short,committeesand committeechairmenleanedon. lronically,as the passage
policy; a fact
to
opposition
spirited
more
the
who
offer
Sovernment
the
Lords
it
is
often
has
legislation
shown,
anti{errorism
p a r t i c u l a r ltyr u e d u r i n gt h eT h a t c h eyr e a r s .
The future for MPs
'careerpoliticians'in the House'WhereasMPs in the
the increasingnumberof what are called
Many writershaveobservecl
.l
linger for 15 or 20 years',Theiob has changed:MPs
MPs
often
940s servedan averageof only five yuuriin Parliament,today's
and over
now often have more comfortableoffice accommodationin PortcullisHouse,ihey receivea reasonablesalary
desire
accompanying
The
moderated'
been
have
of
debate
f50 000 in allowableexpenseson top ofthat salary,and the hours
At the sametime'
to secureand then retainsuch a posiiionis likelyto leadto greaterparty loyaltywithin the Chamber'
representthemand by the
however,many votersare becoming unhappy with the exten'tto which their representatives
to lower turnout in
has- it is argued- c.ontributed
ihe resultingdisillusionment
continualallegationsof sleazeand"scandal.
This
a
n
d
D
r
R
i
2 0 0 1 a s w e l l a s t o t h e e l e c t i o n o fn o n - p a r t y p a r l i a m e n t a i y c a n d i d a t e s ( f o r e x a m p l e , M a r t i n B e l l c h a r d T a y l o r )
disaffectionwith MPs will needto be addressed.
32 Parliament