Parliamentary Affairs (vol 73, issue 1, 2020)

Journal

Parliamentary Affairs (vol 73, issue 1, 2020)

9 Jan 2020

Articles in this latest edition cover topics as diverse as political finance regulation, devolution, young people and the EU referendum, candidate campaigning in general elections, the policisation of abortion and the electoral success of women candidates, as well as reflections on the Turkish, Australian, Irish and EU Parliaments.

Articles

Articles available to read for free are marked with a star (☆).

EDITOR'S CHOICE: ☆ ‘Taking Back Control’, the UK’s Constitutional Narrative and Schrodinger’s Devolution ☆ -- Mark Sandford and Cathy Gormley-Heenan
The Impact of Political Finance Regulation on Party Organisation -- Anika Gauja, Stephen Mills, Narelle Miragliotta, Joo-Cheong Tham, Zim Nwokora, Malcolm Anderson
Electoral Accountability, Responsibility Attributions, and the Democratic Deficit in Devolved Wales -- Einion Dafydd and Sanja Badanjak
Resources, Values, Identity: Young Cosmopolitans and the Referendum on British Membership of the European Union -- Rakib Ehsan and James Sloam
Elite-Citizen Linkages and Issue Congruency under Competitive Authoritarianism -- Marwa Shalaby and Abdullah Aydogan
Minority Party Government and Independent MPs: A Comparative Analysis of Australia and Ireland -- Glenn Kefford and Liam Weeks
Conceived in Harlesden: Candidate-Centred Campaigning in British General Elections -- Caitlin Milazzo and Joshua Townsley
Understanding Legislative Speech in the Turkish Parliament: Reconsidering the Electoral Connection under Proportional Representation -- Alper T Bulut and Emel İlter
Competing Principals and Non-Vote Decisions in the European Parliament -- Nuria Font
Falling on Deaf Ears? Exploring the Effects of Newspaper Coverage of the European Parliament on Public Support for it -- Olga Eisele
The Politicisation of Abortion, Voters’ Stereotypes and the Electoral Success of Women Candidates -- Agnes Blome, Anouk Lloren and Jan Rosset

Latest / Highlights

News / What happens when you lose the party whip? A conversation with Neil Duncan-Jordan MP - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 131

Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan reflects on rebelling against the whip and calling for Keir Starmer to resign, as we assess the fallout from the Mandelson–Epstein affair and its implications for the Government’s legislative programme and House of Lords reform. We examine Gordon Brown’s sweeping standards proposals, question whether they would restore public trust, revisit tensions over the assisted dying bill in the Lord and discuss two key Procedure Committee reports on Commons debates and internal elections. Listen and subscribe: Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Acast · YouTube · Other apps · RSS

Blog / Once again, there is still no alternative: the costed proposals for Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster

The Restoration and Renewal Client Board’s latest report once again confirms what Parliament has known for nearly a decade: the cheapest, quickest and safest way to restore the Palace of Westminster is for MPs and Peers to move out during the works. The “full decant” option was endorsed in 2018 and reaffirmed repeatedly since. Remaining in the building could more than double costs, extend works into the 2080s, and increase risks to safety, accessibility and security. With the Palace already deteriorating and millions spent each year on patchwork repairs, further delay would itself be an expensive course of action, one that defers decisions without offering a viable alternative.

News / Are UK elections under threat? A conversation with the chair of the Electoral Commission, John Pullinger - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 123

With the Government investigating allegations of foreign influence in British politics, we are joined by John Pullinger, Chair of the Electoral Commission, to take stock of the health and resilience of the UK’s electoral system. Our discussion ranges widely over the pressures facing elections and campaigning today, and what issues Parliament may need to grapple with in a future elections bill.

News / Is being Prime Minister an impossible job? - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 121

Why do UK Prime Ministers seem to burn out so quickly? We are joined by historian Robert Saunders to examine why the role has become so punishing in recent years. From Brexit and COVID to fractured parties, rigid governing conventions and relentless media scrutiny, the discussion explores what has gone wrong – and what kind of leadership and political culture might be needed to make the job survivable again.

News / Why MPs can’t just quit: The curious case of the Chiltern Hundreds - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 129

Why can’t MPs simply resign, and why does leaving the House of Commons still involve a medieval-sounding detour via the Chiltern Hundreds or its less glamorous cousin the Manor of Northstead? This week we unravel the history, constitutional logic and legal fudges behind this curious workaround, with some memorable resignations from the past along the way. We also assess the Government’s legislative programme as the Session heads toward its expected May close, including the striking lack of bills published for pre-legislative scrutiny. Finally, as Parliament begins the five-yearly process of renewing consent for the UK’s armed forces, we examine why an Armed Forces Bill is required and hear from Jayne Kirkham MP on how her Ten Minute Rule Bill helped extend the new Armed Forces Commissioner’s oversight to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Listen and subscribe: Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Acast · YouTube · Other apps · RSS