Tag Archives: parliamentary procedure

Prorogation And Brexit

Posted on June 13, 2019 by jasonloch

Dominic Raab, one of the candidates for Conservative leader, recently made headlines when he said he would be willing to prorogue Parliament to prevent MPs from blocking a no-deal Brexit. To say this has caused a stir would be an … Continue reading →

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Why Do People Bow When The Results Of Votes Are Announced In The Commons?

Posted on March 18, 2019 by jasonloch

With all the drama in the Commons lately, there have been quite a few videos showing the moment when the results of key votes are announced to the House. They always show the same scene: four MPs line up in … Continue reading →

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The Cooper Bill And The Queen’s Consent

Posted on February 26, 2019 by jasonloch

Robert Craig has a made an interesting post over at the UK Constitutional Law Association Blog wherein he claims that Yvette Cooper’s bill to extend Article 50 would require the Queen’s Consent. If this is true, it would potentially give … Continue reading →

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Was Speaker Bercow Right To Bend The Rules?

Posted on January 15, 2019 by jasonloch

The Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, made headlines last week when he allowed a backbench MP to table an amendment to the Government’s business motion setting out the terms for the rest of the debate on the … Continue reading →

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Some Notions About Motions

Posted on September 17, 2017 by jasonloch

The Daily Telegraph’s Gordon Rayner included a real howler in his article about the DUP’s rebellion in the Commons last week: “Because the motions have been tabled by the Opposition they are not legally binding…” Rayner was referring to the … Continue reading →

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Why Did Theresa May Sit On The Steps Of The Throne?

Posted on February 28, 2017 by jasonloch

If you watched the beginning of the second reading debate on the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill in the House of Lords, you may have noticed Theresa May watching the debate from the steps of the throne. Although Prime Ministers rarely venture … Continue reading →

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Commons Clerks Ditch Wigs, Keep Robes

Posted on February 6, 2017 by jasonloch

The Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, today announced that the Commons’ clerks will no longer wear horsehair wigs and court dress while sitting at the table. They will, however, keep their black gowns, and male clerks will … Continue reading →

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Does John Bercow want a management wonk for Clerk?

Posted on May 25, 2014 by jasonloch

Mark D’Arcy of the BBC has written an interesting article about the forthcoming search for a new Clerk of the House of Commons (or, to give the formal title, ‘Under-Clerk of the Parliaments’). The incumbent, Sir Robert Rogers, has announced … Continue reading →

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