How Does the Government Organise its Majority -The Whips Overview
Carrots and Sticks used by the Whips
Managing your majority through Parliamentary Private Secretaries
Managing your majority by working with Party Groups
Free Votes in the House of Commons
Types of MPs – The Constituency Activist
Types of MPs – The Aspiring Minister
Types of MPs- The House of Commons Expert
Types of MPs- The Policy Entrepreneur
Controlling the Executive – Introduction
Controlling the Executive by Legislation
Controlling the Executive with Finance
Controlling the Executive through Appointments
Controlling the Executive through Questions
Controlling the Executive through Ministerial Statements
Controlling the Executive with Opposition Debates
Controlling the Executive through Select Committees
Overview of MP Expenses and Interests
Some MPs do not aspire to be Ministers or may have had a brief period in office and now do not expect to be a Minister again.
Another avenue is to become a Select Committee Chair and this provides an extra salary of around £15,000 and more influence than many Junior Ministers would have.
Other MPs may become an expert on Commons procedure and defenders of Parliament against the Executive. The new Backbench Business Committee created in 2010 is another vehicle for this.