Journal Articles

‘Never Allow a Crisis Go To Waste’ : The Wright Committee Reforms to Strengthen the House of Commons

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In 2010 an important package of reforms was agreed to the British parliament, following a report by a new Select Committee on Reform of the House of Commons, chaired by Labour MP Tony Wright. The reforms changed the way in which select committee members and chairs are chosen, removing patronage powers from party whips and instead moving to a system of election. They also created a new category of ‘backbench business’, for approximately one day per sitting week, to be scheduled by a new Backbench Business Committee: thus significantly reducing the government's hold over the Commons agenda. This article explores the background to these reforms, their likely effects, and crucially how they came to be agreed by the famously executive-dominated House of Commons.

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Series Title

Parliamentary Affairs

Call Number

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Publisher

Oxfordshire, United Kingdom : Oxford University Press., 2011

Collation

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Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

00312290

Classification

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Content Type

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Media Type

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Carrier Type

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Edition

Vol. 64, No. 4, October 2011, pp. 612-633

Subject(s)

Never Allow a Crisis Go To Waste

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