Backbench Influence on Government Legislation? A Flexing of Parliamentary Muscles at Westminster

MPs gave the government a rough ride in the final quarter of 2005. Blair’s government suffered its first defeat in the House of Commons and faced several other rebellions on major legislation in the lower house as well as ten defeats in the House of Lords. Crucially, in the final months of 2005 the government was forced to make concessions on several occasions in response to the threat of rebellion among Labour backbenchers. This threat is now more serious given the government’s reduced majority since the 2005 election and more credible following the defeats on the Terrorism Bill in November. Parliamentary committees were critical of the government in a number of reports dealing not only with legislation but also with the reluctance of special advisers to appear before select committees. In addition, the Modernisation Committee began an inquiry into the workings of the legislative process at Westminster.