- REPRESENT CONSTITUENTS
- MPs will hold ‘surgeries’ where local people can meet with their MP
- Some MPs send out newsletters to their constituents and communicate via their own website or social media accounts.
- MPs are asked to attend a large number of meetings and events, including with their local constituency political party. They require the support of the local party to ensure that they will be selected to stand as a candidate in future elections.
- REPRESENT PARTY
- Speaking in Parliament during a debate, asking questions during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) – good scrutiny of exec.
- Debates give the opportunity for MPs and Lords to voice the concerns and interests of their constituents with regards to government policy.
- Each party appoints a number of MPs to act as WHIPS – ensure MPs attend votes, issue instructions on how to vote – ‘three-line whip’ – attendance is essential and you must vote in line with party,
- PMBs
- An example of a successful Private Members Bill is the Homelessness Reduction Act (2017) which was introduced by Conservative MP for Harrow East, Bob Blackman.
- They have little chance of success without government backing as exec control legislative timetable and can use ‘guillotine motions’ to limit debate on certain bills, as Cameron did in 2011 on AV System.
