News

Inside the Private Members' Bill Ballot: 20 MPs win the legislative lottery - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 46

6 Sep 2024
Clerk assistant picks numbered balls from a fishbowl during the Private Members' Bill Ballot. ©House of Commons
©House of Commons

The Private Members’ Bill (PMB) ballot for this Session has been drawn, giving 20 MPs the opportunity to introduce a law of their choice. Potential bills could include proposals such as assisted dying, but what are the real chances of success? We talk to PMB expert, Dr. Daniel Gover, to understand the value of these bills and what to watch out for in the coming months.

While Parliament was in recess the Government announced a means-test for the Winter Fuel Allowance, aimed at addressing what it says is a £22 billion deficit in the public finances. This change, implemented via a Statutory Instrument, has prompted the Opposition to table a ‘prayer’ motion to overturn the decision. Labour MPs are facing intense pressure in their constituencies, particularly from aggrieved pensioners. So, will this be the first big test of Keir Starmer’s hold on his parliamentary troops?

The first few Government Bills has successfully passed through the House of Commons this week. Their smooth passage raises questions about the Government’s approach to legislative scrutiny. As the 100-day deadline for introducing key bills looms, we assess what’s next for the Government’s legislative agenda.

Jeremy Corbyn, alongside five independent MPs who ran on a pro-Palestinian platform in the last election, has formed the 'Independent Alliance.' The group hopes it will give them an advantage in the selection of parliamentary questions and debates. But can this informal alliance give them a strategic advantage?

Next week marks the close of nominations for the election of new Select Committee chairs. We analyse the key contenders and their potential to hold the Government to account in the months ahead.

©Queen Mary University of London

Dr Daniel Gover

Daniel Gover is a senior lecturer in British Politics at Queen Mary University of London. His research focuses on the UK Parliament and constitution, particularly the legislative process and Private Members' Bills. Prior to taking up a position as a lecturer, Daniel worked at the Constitution Unit at UCL and in 2017 co-authored a book with Professor Meg Russell on Parliament's influence over legislation, Legislation at Westminster: Parliamentary Actors and Influence in the Making of British Law. He also worked at Queen Mary's Mile End Institute, researching the 'English Votes for English Laws' procedure in the House of Commons.

  • Winter Fuel Allowance means-test debate: will the Government face down the opposition?

  • Private Members' Bill ballot: What happens next?

  • Government Bills and legislative scrutiny: What have we learnt so far?

  • Jeremy Corbyn and the 'Independent Alliance' group: Will it make a difference?

  • New Select Committee Chairs: Who are the key candidates?

Hansard Society

Dr Daniel Gover, Queen Mary University of London

Constitution Unit, UCL

Please note, this transcript is automatically generated. There are consequently minor errors and the text is not formatted according to our style guide. If you wish to reference or cite the transcript copy below, please first check against the audio version above. Timestamps are provided for ease of reference.

You are listening to Parliament Matters, a Hansard Society production, supported by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. Learn more at hansardsociety.org.uk/pm.

[00:00:18] Ruth Fox: Welcome to Parliament Matters, the podcast about the institution at the heart of our democracy, Parliament itself. I'm Ruth Fox,

[00:00:24] Mark D'Arcy: And I'm Mark D'Arcy. Coming up this week..

[00:00:26] Ruth Fox: Now is the winter fuel allowance of Labour's discontents. Will this be the first big test of Keir Starmer's hold on his parliamentary troops?

[00:00:35] Mark D'Arcy: The legislative lottery's been drawn. 20 MPs have a chance to bring in the law of their choice. So what might they choose, and what are their chances? We talk to Private Members Bill expert Daniel Gover.

[00:00:45] Ruth Fox: And a new generation of select committee chairs is about to be elected. Will they be stringent scrutineers of the government?

[00:00:53] We look at the runners and riders.

[00:01:04] Mark D'Arcy: But first, Ruth, we've got to talk about, as you say, what may emerge as Keir Starmer's first big parliamentary test. The vote will be coming up next Tuesday on the winter fuel allowance and his attempt to restrict it to the worst off pensioners.

Subscribe to Parliament Matters

Use the links below to subscribe to the Hansard Society's Parliament Matters podcast on your preferred app, or search for 'Parliament Matters' on whichever podcasting service you use. If you are unable to find our podcast, please email us here.

News / Former Prime Ministers: The role of Parliament in life after No 10 - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 109

In this episode, we speak with Peter Just, author of a new book, Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street. Peter explores how Thatcher reinvented herself after her departure to maintain her status as an international figure, and how she remained a parliamentary thorn in John Major’s side. We also compare her parliamentary afterlife with that of other Prime Ministers, and consider the value that former leaders can bring to the institution of Parliament. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.

03 Oct 2025
Read more

News / What are the Usual Channels? A short history of Westminster whipping - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 108

In this episode, we talk to political journalist Seb Whale about his new book, The Usual Channels, which reveals the hidden world of Westminster’s whips. Seb charts how party discipline has evolved – from the stormy politics of the 1970s and the Maastricht battles of the 1990s to the legendary “black book,” the Brexit showdowns and the short-lived Liz Truss premiership. He explains how the whips’ office has adapted to a modern Parliament – especially with the influx of women MPs – and why, even today, whips still wield decisive influence over MPs’ careers and remain indispensable despite the pressures of contemporary politics. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.

26 Sep 2025
Read more

Blog / Treaty scrutiny: addressing the accountability gap

In this guest blog, Lord Goldsmith KC, Chair of the House of Lords International Agreements Committee (IAC), sets out the findings of the Committee’s latest report urging reform of Parliament's outdated system for scrutinising treaties. The report warns that Westminster lags behind other legislatures in overseeing these vital policy instruments. Rejecting successive governments' defence of the status quo, it argues that government objections to reform are unconvincing and meaningful accountability is overdue.

23 Sep 2025
Read more

News / Assisted dying bill - special series #17: Peers give the Bill a Second Reading, but progress is paused for committee evidence - Parliament Matters podcast, Episode 107

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has cleared another key hurdle: it was given a Second Reading in the House of Lords without a formal vote. But Peers have agreed to set up a special select committee to hear evidence from Ministers, professional bodies and legal experts before the Bill goes any further. That decision pushes the detailed clause-by-clause scrutiny back to mid-November and could shape the Bill’s prospects in unexpected ways. In this episode we explore the procedural twists and political manoeuvring behind that decision. Please help us by completing our Listener Survey. It will only take a few minutes.

20 Sep 2025
Read more

Briefings / The assisted dying bill: A guide to the legislative process in the House of Lords

Having passed through the House of Commons, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - the Bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales - must now go through its legislative stages in the House of Lords. This guide explains the special procedures for legislation in the House of Lords, and for Private Members’ Bills in particular. It answers some frequently asked questions, including how Peers might block the Bill, and gives an explanation of each stage of the process, from Second to Third Reading.

10 Sep 2025
Read more