Parliament in the Eighties

The modern evolution of the Westminster system of government has left Parliament with an ambiguous and little-understood role. The most important day in the life of the back-bench member of / the House of Commons is the day when he is declared elected. That is the day when we know for certain how many members each party has, and therefore which party is going to govern the country. Thus even on that unique occasion the MP is simply part of the scoreboard rather than one of the players on the field. Strict party discipline means that once a government has a majority it is safe until it terminates the life of the House of Commons and goes back to the electorate. What happens in between is totally predictable on every vote that takes place on the floor of the House. Gone (or near1y gone) are the days when one could say with Walter Bagehot that the House is a permanent electoral chamber which can create or destroy a government when it chooses to do so. When this actually happens (as in December 1979) it is a cause of general wonderment and simulated resentment that the House has deprived the government of its mandate to govern for 'a full term'. […