Based on unprecedented access to the UK Parliament, this book challenges how we understand and think about accountability between government and Parliament. Drawing on three months of research in Westminster, and over forty-five interviews, this book focuses on the everyday practices of Members of Parliament and officials to reveal how parliamentarians perform their scrutiny roles. Some MPs become specialists while others act as lone wolves; some are there to try to defend their party while others want to learn about policy. Amongst these different styles, chairs of committees have to try to reconcile these interpretations and either act as committee-orientated catalysts or attempt to impose order as leadership-orientated chieftains. All of this pushes and pulls scrutiny in competing directions, and tells us that accountability depends on individual beliefs, everyday practices and the negotiation of dilemmas. In this way, MPs and officials create a drama or spectacle of accountability and use their performance on the parliamentary stage to hold government to account. Dramas at Westminster: Select committees and the quest for accountability offers the most up-to-date and detailed research on committee practices in the House of Commons, following a range of reforms since 2010.

Describes and evaluates a major change in the British House of Commons, introduced in 1979: select committees, staffed exclusively by backbenchers, are charged with monitoring government ministries. Interviews with over 100 parliamentary members and staff suggest that giving otherwise minor legislat

A fresh perspective on an ancient institution; Exploring Parliament offers an engaging and real-life insight into the inner workings, impact, and relevance of twenty-first century Parliament. Short academic and practitioner chapters are combined with highly relevant and practical case studies, to provide a new and accessible introduction to Parliament's structures, people, and practices. As well as covering the broader structure of UK Parliament, this text explains the role of small parties in law making, the design and space of Parliament, and offers illuminating case studies on highly topical areas such as the Backbench Business Committee, the Hillsborough Inquiry and recent pieces of legislation such as the Assisted Dying Bill. This text is complemented by the following online resources for students and lecturers: - Video tours of Parliament - Podcasts to explain and explore the work of Parliament - Web links to help students to explore Parliament even further

The Committee's report contains a number of recommendations for the work of Parliamentary Select Committees, the cross-party groupings of MPs who scrutinise the activities of Whitehall departments. The report highlights the need for an alternative career structure to enhance the status of the committee system and recognise that scrutiny of the Executive is as valid a career choice for MPs as serving in the Government. Accordingly, it recommends that chairmen of the principal committees be paid salaries. It also proposes that select committees that scrutinise the role of government departments should be renamed as 'scrutiny committees' in order to accurately reflect their function. Other proposals include the need for more resources and specialist support staff, a clearer remit, a wider membership, and a new system of nominations to guarantee independence and ensure the selection process is transparent.