Are private members' bills a good way for MPs to decide on difficult policy

About this episode

An expert panel discusses the effectiveness of private members' bills in shaping policy on complex social issues.

An expert panel drew on lessons from the recent assisted dying bill and other PMBs to consider how backbench MPs should approach complex issues. While historically major social reforms – such as decriminalising homosexuality or legalising abortion – have been introduced through private members’ bills (PMBs), most backbench attempts to legislate that do not begin with government support fail to make it onto the statute book. The Procedure Committee has undertaken extensive work and made proposals for reform, but the deficiencies of the PMB process remain largely hidden from public view. With the attempted passage of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill shining a spotlight on the PMB process, this Institute for Government event will explore the value and effectiveness of PMBs, and the wider role of backbenchers in shaping policy. Is the current process fit for purpose when it comes to issues that divide opinion and stir public debate? Are there other options that parliament should consider for backbench MPs to raise, debate and legislate on critical social issues? To discuss this and more, the IfG brought together an expert panel, including: Paul Brand, UK Editor at ITV…

People in this episode

Host: Dr Hannah White

Guests: Paul Brand, Dr Daniel Gover, Luke Norbury

Topics covered

• private members' bills
• policy making
• backbench MPs
• social issues
• legislation
• public debate

Keywords

• private members' bills
• assisted dying
• legislation
• backbench MPs
• social reform
• policy debate

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Institute for Government, ITV News, Queen Mary University London, Cabinet Office

Books & works: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, assisted dying bill

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