An A* essay plan that evaluates how effective select committees are. Precise and detailed evidence used to advance a nuanced argument. Would facilitate a full A* essay.
This essay plan helped me to achieve a high A* in Politics. I now study at Cambridge.
Evaluate the view that select committees are effective
Introduction Define: proportionality, voter choice, Argument:
stable government (criteria for New Largely convincing – there are some
Labour Jenkins Commission on electoral drawbacks, e.g. fewer majority govts, but
reform) AMS retains the desirable features of FPTP
while mitigating its fundamental
disadvantages e.g. limited voter choice &
highly disproportional results.
Paragraph 1: Weak argument point 1: Weak argument point 2:
Membership The governing party usually holds a Women MPs have been severely under-
majority in select committees – e.g. (9 represented on some committees,
conservative members on the Public especially Defence and Foreign Affairs
Accounts Committee in 2019 compared to whose members were 93% male from
just 5 Labour members. AO2 – hampers 1979 to 2017. Women MPs are most
effectiveness of holding govt to account as prominent on the health and education
membership skewed. Not whipped. committees.
Strong argument point 1: Strong argument point 2:
BUT the Chair of select committees is Equally, the chair and members are
always a member of the opposition party. elected by all MPS and thus not controlled
E.g. Chair of the PAC in 2019 was Labour by party leaders. One of its main
MP Meg Hillier. The Chair has greater strengths is that its members tend to
prestige and higher salary, conferring operate outside of party loyalty: e.g. in
power. In 2014, Cons MP Sarah Wollaston, 2019, even when Conservative
a doctor who had previously been critical dominated, afforded meaningful scrutiny:
of govt’s health policies, was elected as the criticized the Home Office’s approach to
new Chair of the Health Committee. crime. Led to Priti Patel announcing 6000
extra police to combat street crime.
Paragraph 2: Weak argument point 1: Weak argument point 2:
Scrutiny of Select Committee decisions are not In the 2019 GE, 75.8% of votes were for
govt and enforceable. In 2018, the Home Affairs Cons/ Labour AO2 suggests reform
public Committee criticised the govt’s handling of unnecessary as voters drawn to 2 main
institutions windrush and recommended reforms of parties – in practice, greater choice
procedure. BUT has not yet materialized – through electoral form unnecessary.
tempers success.
Strong argument point 1: Strong argument point 2:
BUT although not enforceable, tends to Effective in holding govt to account.
attract media attention which usually Impact: UCL found that the govt acted
compensates for this. E.g. investigation upon 44% of seven select committee’s
into Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley for recommendations
poor treatment of workers garnered sig. PAC: in 2020, the PAC investigated
media coverage. Led to compensation. gambling regulation – highly critical of the
Serves as example of Gambling Commission of the Department
- Scrutiny of external body for Digital Culture, Media and Sport.
- Media coverage (can also Impact: in 2020, the govt announced
reference Philip Green) proposals to ban use of credit cards on
online gambling sites.
Backbench BC: one day per week
allocated; before 2010, exec controlled
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