70
votes
Accepted
What does the British parliament hope to achieve by requesting a third Brexit extension?
The Parliament doesn't have a single opinion. It probably has 650 different opinions (perhaps more!).
Individual members may be hoping to achieve different things by an extension:
Strong remainers, ...
- 124k
60
votes
Accepted
Why is Ian Blackford allowed to speak in the Commons while having crossed the line?
Is there any reason be it written or traditional that would permit Mr Blackford to stand across the line or is it simply permitted because nobody objects?
There is a rule is that members cannot speak ...
- 5,845
60
votes
Accepted
In the UK parliament, how much of Prime Minister's Questions is pre-planned?
Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) is in theory no different from the usual departmental ministers' questions, with the key difference being that instead of the questions being known ahead of time, a &...
CDJB♦
- 108k
43
votes
Accepted
What does Nicholas Watt mean that May has “enough tellers for her Brexit vote”?
From Parliament's website.
Four tellers are required for a division to take place: two representing those voting for the motion and two representing those voting against. Two tellers - one from each ...
- 25k
40
votes
Why does John Bercow say “unlock” after reading out the results of a vote?
If you follow the evening votes on any live stream, you'll notice that Bercow has the voting lobbies locked 8 minutes after putting the question.
Here's an excellent outline of how the UK parliament's ...
- 30.8k
36
votes
Accepted
Why didn't Theresa May consult with Parliament before negotiating a deal with the EU?
After the referendum there was no requirement to consult Parliament on any deal, the government could have simply agreed it with the EU and presented it as the only option on the table - take it or ...
- 17.7k
32
votes
What is the meaning of grabbing the mace in the British parliament?
The mace is a symbol of the Queen's Authority. Its presence in the House of Commons signifies that the House has the Queen's authority to pass laws, etc.
It is not unknown for an MP to make some ...
- 1,053
32
votes
Accepted
If Boris Johnson returns as an MP, would he have to serve the 90-day suspension for lying to Parliament?
No, he would not. The report voted on by Parliament doesn't even recommend a 90-day suspension, it instead states that had Johnson not resigned that that would have been their recommendation.
In the ...
CDJB♦
- 108k
29
votes
Why didn't Theresa May consult with Parliament before negotiating a deal with the EU?
Perhaps one thing you may be forgetting is that, when the Brexit negotiations between the UK and the EU started, the Conservative Party had a healthy majority in the house of commons. Therefore, there ...
- 4,950
29
votes
Accepted
Boris Johnson Partygate Report: What are the possible consequences for Johnson?
Now that the recommendations of the report of the privileges committee have been adopted without amendment, Boris Johnson will receive the only sanction left available to the Commons now that he has ...
CDJB♦
- 108k
28
votes
Can the oath to the monarch be "honestly" removed in the British Parliament
The reason why parliament members in the United Kingdom must swear allegiance to the monarch is because the parliament decided that. The Oaths Act 1978 mandates who needs to swear what, when and how. ...
- 78.2k
27
votes
Are British MPs missing the point, with these 'Indicative Votes'?
Two things have to be approved by the UK parliament - the Withdrawal Agreement and the accompanying Political Declaration. Many of these potential changes would be to the contents of the political ...
- 5,846
27
votes
Accepted
How will the UK Commons debate on the 3rd of September despite the prorogation?
The order authorising prorogation states that:
It is this day ordered by Her Majesty in Council that the Parliament be prorogued
on a day no earlier than Monday the 9th day of September and no ...
- 12.9k
27
votes
What does the British parliament hope to achieve by requesting a third Brexit extension?
While individual positions within all the parties are muddled, each party's position is reasonably clear.
Conservatives: Out on 31st October, Deal or No Deal, the article linked also says they will ...
- 25k
26
votes
Why does the UK Prime Minister need the permission of Parliament to call a general election?
If the Prime Minister resigns, then another MP is allowed to try to form a government. This has already been discussed as an option by the opposition, specifically to pass a motion of no confidence, ...
- 15.9k
25
votes
Could Sinn Fein swing any Brexit vote in Parliament?
Sinn Fein's purpose is a united Ireland. They don't regard British rule over Northern Ireland as legitimate, and swearing the Oath of Allegiance would be anathema to them. They'd be no more willing to ...
- 10.6k
25
votes
What does it mean to support the brexit deal but need more time to scrutinise it?
The Commons agreed to the second reading of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill, which (if it eventually passes all its parliamentary stages and receives Royal Assent) will turn the UK-EU ...
- 12.9k
25
votes
Accepted
Why is the Speaker of the House of Commons (UK) elected by secret ballot?
The rule was introduced in 2001, following the 2000 election of Michael Martin. That election took place "by means of a conventional parliamentary motion with recorded votes on an amendment for each ...
- 1,371
25
votes
Accepted
Is there a hierarchy in how you refer to a UK MP? If so could you use a lower ranked one as an insult?
Yes, but doing so usually leads to being corrected by members who may believe it to be an honest mistake, or being reprimanded by the chair if it is clearly done with the intention to insult. Using a ...
CDJB♦
- 108k
23
votes
Does the Brexit deal have to be agreed by both Houses?
Denis has given the formal answer, but there is also a political reason why the House of Lords will not block a deal.
The House of Lords is unelected, and the Lords are aware that the existence of ...
- 48.6k
23
votes
House of Commons clarification on clapping
You're absolutely correct that by convention, applause is discouraged in the House of Commons (and indeed, the Lords). Erskine May, the guide to parliamentary practice, has this to say on the subject:
...
CDJB♦
- 108k
21
votes
How does the UK House of Commons think they can prolong the deadline of Brexit?
The date on which the United Kingdom ceases to be a member state of the European Union can be extended, by a procedure described in section 3 of Article 50 of the Treaty of the European Union:
...
- 5,846
21
votes
What does the British parliament hope to achieve by requesting a third Brexit extension?
In the short term, to avoid No Deal and the consequent disasters predicted by Yellowhammer. There's no realistic time to do anything else, and as yet no consensus as to what to do.
In the medium term?...
- 22.2k
20
votes
Why did members who wanted to raise a point of order during a division have to wear a top hat while talking in the House of Commons in the UK?
Some Traditions and Customs of the House from the House of Commons Information Office.
To increase their appearance during debates and to be seen more easily, a Member wishing to raise a point of ...
- 36k
19
votes
Accepted
Does Parliament need to approve the new Brexit delay to 31 October 2019?
No, but it nearly did.
The Cooper-Letwin bill originally had language to that effect when it first passed in the Commons, but it got removed in House of Lords for precisely the reason you're asking ...
- 30.8k
19
votes
Why is Ian Blackford allowed to speak in the Commons while having crossed the line?
As he is not carrying a sword it is less of a concern I suppose:
"Traditions in the Chamber: MPs are not allowed to speak in the space
between two red lines running along the length of the ...
- 1,354
19
votes
Accepted
Was the scene depicting a Commons vote won by 3/4 of a vote real in "This House"?
The part of the play which I believe you're referring to can be read here, and refers to the actions of Walter Harrison, then a government whip in a committee stage vote, not a vote in the main ...
CDJB♦
- 108k
18
votes
Accepted
Was there a precedent of circumventing Commons supermajority requirement?
There is no precedent for requiring a supermajority in the commons - the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act was the first time this was ever required. There is, therefore, no precedent for circumventing such ...
- 5,846
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