effective at carrying out their roles. Agreement AO1 Backbenchers are increasingly effective at their scrutiny role on select committees since the Wright reforms. AO2 The Wright reforms created the BBC as well as boosting the independence, legitimacy and experience of Departmental Select Committees raising their profile in Parliament and in the media leading to changes in policy and ministerial resignations, AO3 showing that backbenchers are increasingly effective at carrying out their scrutiny role. AO1 Backbenchers are increasingly effective at holding the government to account via PMQs and Urgent Questions. AO2 Backbenchers are using PMQs and Urgent Questions, which grew in number particularly under Speaker Bercow whilst remaining high under Speaker Hoyle, AO3 showing that backbenchers can be seen as increasingly effective at holding the government to account. AO1 Backbenchers have shown themselves willing to challenge government legislation in their legislative role. AO2 Backbench rebellions are increasingly more common forcing the government to add amendments to legislation to win votes from the backbenches or withdraw legislation altogether whilst since the 2006 reforms to allow Public Bill Committees to take written and oral evidence has increased their relevance, AO3 reflecting that the growing power of backbenchers in their legislative role. AO1 Backbenchers have become increasingly effective due to the nature of government in recent times and the breakdown of party discipline. AO2 Since 2010 there have been weaker governments with coalitions, minority governments and Prime Ministers leading having not contested a general election whilst party discipline has been broken down by issues like Brexit and the environment which don’t sit neatly on the left right political spectrum, AO3 meaning that MPs have become increasingly effective in their roles.

effective at carrying out their roles. Disagreement AO1 There remain significant weaknesses with select committees. AO2 Select Committees still retain significant weaknesses as the government can choose to ignore recommendations and even block witnesses from appearing whilst the government still controls a vast amount of the parliamentary timetable, AO3 showing that backbenchers are not as effective at scrutiny as it might first appear. AO1 Party leaders use patronage and the whip system to keep their backbenchers in line. AO2 PMQs has significant limitations in terms of the atmosphere, the lack of effective answers to questions and party leaders often priming backbenchers with questions, AO3 showing that backbenchers are not increasing in effectiveness. AO1 The Executive normally gets its way in terms of passing its legislative agenda, especially if it is laid out in its manifesto with backbenchers seen as lobby fodder. AO2 There may be more backbench rebellions but ultimately the Executive gets their way with legislation especially if it is in the winning party’s manifesto as this is considered to provide a clear mandate for action, rarely facing defeat on the floor of the House of Commons, whilst 99% of all amendments made to bills are initiated by Ministers, AO3 showing that ultimately backbenchers are not effective in their legislative role. AO1 The nature of recent governments is a blip, and the breakdown of party discipline is short term, tied to Brexit. AO2 Whilst there were coalition and minority governments, this is more of a blip than a pattern, with FPTP likely to continue to return majority governments whilst party unity is likely to return the further Brexit gets in the rear-view mirror, AO3 reflecting that ultimately backbenchers are not increasingly effective.