Parliament and its functions
Westminster – 13th century where the king permitted an assembly to help them run the
country.
Structure:
Bicameral system
Two chambers
The commons and Lords
Selection of members
Chosen through single member constituencies
Using first past the post – voting system where its whoever gets the most votes even
if they don’t get over 50% (only for PM)
House of Commons
650 members but conservatives are keen to reduce it to 600
On average 6 candidates vie for each constituency
General elections
2011 – fixed term parliament act – general elections are to be held every 5 years
An election can be called early if a leader loses 2/3 of the confidence from their party
And if the PM cannot form a government within 14 days.
By Election - If an MP retires, dies or has been disciplined by parliament for breaking
the ministerial code a bi election is called and they can be elected from any party.
Political Affiliations
Most MPs elected are from political parties however there can be independent ones:
Lady Hermon – 2010 and 2015 as the MP for North Down in Northern Ireland.
Leaving a party
An MP can logistically leave or be expelled from a political party
Douglas Carswell – left UKIP as member for Clacton Essex and served out the rest of
his term as an independent in March 2017
The backbench
¾ of MPs are known as backbenchers and they do not hold a position within the
government
The Front Bench
Subdivided into those who work in the governmental cabinet closely with the PM
and those who are in the shadow cabinet
Shadow Cabinet – led by leader of opposition who has the mandate to challenge the
ruling party.
Current Front Bench
, Prime minister – Rishi Sunak; born in Southampton to Indian descent. He went to Oxford
university and earned a MBA from Stanford University where he met his wife who is the
daughter of a billionaire. He was previously served as the chancellor and chief secretary to
the treasury. He has been MP for Richmond (Yorkshire) since 2015.
Chancellor – Jeremy Hunt; He previously served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for
Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport from 2010 to 2012, Secretary of State for Health and
Social Care from 2012 to 2018, and Foreign Secretary from 2018 to 2019. He has been the
MP for Southwest Surrey since 2005. He attended charterhouse school where the offside
rule was created. He also studied at Oxford university where he was the president of the
conservative society.
Home Secretary – Suella Braverman; Born in Harrow and raised in Wembley but of Indian
origin. She was chair of the European Research group from 2017-18 and attorney general for
England and Wales from 2020-22. She has been the MP for Fareham in Hampshire since
2015. She resigned in protest of Theresa May’s draft Brexit withdrawal agreement. She also
stood as a candidate to succeed Boris. Braverman resigned as Home Secretary on 19
October 2022 after she breached the Ministerial Code by sending sensitive information
using her personal email address. She was reinstated as Home Secretary six days later by
Truss's successor as Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. She has a strong interest on immigration
Foreign Secretary – James Cleverly; He grew up in Lewisham Army reserve officer who has
served as an MP for Braintree in Essex since 2015 and served as the secretary of state for
education while also being the co chairman of the conservative party and a member of the
London Assembly.
Health Secretary – Steve Barclay; Born in Lancashire and educated at King Edward VII
School, Lytham, Barclay attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and served in
the British Army before reading history at Peterhouse, Cambridge. He served as Secretary of
State for Exiting the European Union from 2018 to 2020, Chief Secretary to the
Treasury from 2020 to 2021, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of
Lancaster from 2021 to 2022, and Downing Street Chief of Staff from February to July 2022.
He has been the MP for Northeast Cambridgeshire since 2010.
Westminster – 13th century where the king permitted an assembly to help them run the
country.
Structure:
Bicameral system
Two chambers
The commons and Lords
Selection of members
Chosen through single member constituencies
Using first past the post – voting system where its whoever gets the most votes even
if they don’t get over 50% (only for PM)
House of Commons
650 members but conservatives are keen to reduce it to 600
On average 6 candidates vie for each constituency
General elections
2011 – fixed term parliament act – general elections are to be held every 5 years
An election can be called early if a leader loses 2/3 of the confidence from their party
And if the PM cannot form a government within 14 days.
By Election - If an MP retires, dies or has been disciplined by parliament for breaking
the ministerial code a bi election is called and they can be elected from any party.
Political Affiliations
Most MPs elected are from political parties however there can be independent ones:
Lady Hermon – 2010 and 2015 as the MP for North Down in Northern Ireland.
Leaving a party
An MP can logistically leave or be expelled from a political party
Douglas Carswell – left UKIP as member for Clacton Essex and served out the rest of
his term as an independent in March 2017
The backbench
¾ of MPs are known as backbenchers and they do not hold a position within the
government
The Front Bench
Subdivided into those who work in the governmental cabinet closely with the PM
and those who are in the shadow cabinet
Shadow Cabinet – led by leader of opposition who has the mandate to challenge the
ruling party.
Current Front Bench
, Prime minister – Rishi Sunak; born in Southampton to Indian descent. He went to Oxford
university and earned a MBA from Stanford University where he met his wife who is the
daughter of a billionaire. He was previously served as the chancellor and chief secretary to
the treasury. He has been MP for Richmond (Yorkshire) since 2015.
Chancellor – Jeremy Hunt; He previously served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for
Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport from 2010 to 2012, Secretary of State for Health and
Social Care from 2012 to 2018, and Foreign Secretary from 2018 to 2019. He has been the
MP for Southwest Surrey since 2005. He attended charterhouse school where the offside
rule was created. He also studied at Oxford university where he was the president of the
conservative society.
Home Secretary – Suella Braverman; Born in Harrow and raised in Wembley but of Indian
origin. She was chair of the European Research group from 2017-18 and attorney general for
England and Wales from 2020-22. She has been the MP for Fareham in Hampshire since
2015. She resigned in protest of Theresa May’s draft Brexit withdrawal agreement. She also
stood as a candidate to succeed Boris. Braverman resigned as Home Secretary on 19
October 2022 after she breached the Ministerial Code by sending sensitive information
using her personal email address. She was reinstated as Home Secretary six days later by
Truss's successor as Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. She has a strong interest on immigration
Foreign Secretary – James Cleverly; He grew up in Lewisham Army reserve officer who has
served as an MP for Braintree in Essex since 2015 and served as the secretary of state for
education while also being the co chairman of the conservative party and a member of the
London Assembly.
Health Secretary – Steve Barclay; Born in Lancashire and educated at King Edward VII
School, Lytham, Barclay attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and served in
the British Army before reading history at Peterhouse, Cambridge. He served as Secretary of
State for Exiting the European Union from 2018 to 2020, Chief Secretary to the
Treasury from 2020 to 2021, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of
Lancaster from 2021 to 2022, and Downing Street Chief of Staff from February to July 2022.
He has been the MP for Northeast Cambridgeshire since 2010.
