How does Parliament react in times of crisis?

The UK Parliament itself has gone through many dramatic events in the past 300 years. From its first emergence in 1215 with the signing of the Magna Carta, following with the English Civil war, leading up all the way up to the Coronavirus Pandemic which is changing our political views during this period and challenging the cherished democracy.

One of the most critical moments faced in Parliament was the coalition government in 2010-2015. A coalition government is where two or more parties are represented in cabinet. Most British citizens are used to Westminster being a majoritarian government, where after an election a clear winner forms Government and their leader becomes prime minister. This collaborative government is very unusual in the UK, however many countries such as Germany a coalition government is normality. The 2010 election did not produce a clear majority therefore a hung parliament was put into place, this was a disturbed time as there was no parliament and no majority, this was the first hung parliament since 1974. The battle was set between Conservative leader David Cameron and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg. This coalition government changed this political system dramatically, from culture shifts as there was an increase in parliamentary committees; most importantly there was a change in internal organization. The lib dem and conservative parties monitored each other “kept tabs” on the coalition agreement thesis, as a compromise must be policed. The “keeping tabs” strategy monitored mechanisms. After the Fixed Term Parliamentary Act 2011- which meant that for the time sets in legislation a default fixed election date for a general election. Before the act, the elections were required at least once every five years but could be called earlier. This act potentially made it harder for the Prime minister to call elections which would have been an easy escape route from this coalition crisis. In 2015 a general election was held, and the coalition government was outvoted by the single conservative party, which dissolved the. problem. Overall, it was a crazy time, but it did have its benefits, it changed the public’s understanding of what the parliamentary institution does and how it functions. In addition to this, the coalition government gave the people a firsthand experience of what government could be like, gaining more public interests which results in more general election voters to succeed the democratic system.

Shortly after this crisis, in 2017 a minority government was put in place. A minority government is where the party (or parties) in government do not hold a majority of seats in parliament. This is unusual in the UK however very common across the world, as over 1/3 of countries are governed by a minority. The 2017 conservative party did not win a majority resulting in this 2-year minority. This was a challenge, firstly because you need a majority to support a government and legislate (pass laws etc.), a government cannot function effectively in a minority. As a result of these hard-hitting challenges the consequences started to emerge, suddenly individual Mp’s became more important. Usually MPs’ are relatively insignificant, this increase in public eye from these certain individuals, such as Jeremy Corbyn who called for Theresa May to resign once forming the minority government. Not only did Theresa May have to deal with a minority government but now also a Brexit coalition, this completely divided the country. These were hectic times for Parliament as they lost voters, but positively the public did seem to gain a real interest in Parliament. But how did the public view parliament? As parliament failed to reach a consensus or a majority on how government should proceed with Brexit, the public felt at unease as they were unsure whether Brexit would be the right decision. However, some of the public saw this as a strengthening strategy for parliament, through their strong co-operation, and ability to negotiate upon the circumstances. In conclusion, this minority was a very disturbing and overwhelming time for Parliament, but it did show some visible strengths.

Finally, the crisis which is most relatable and effective to our own personal lives. Pandemics and Parliament. Worldwide different parliaments are taking different approaches during the pandemic. The roles and functions of UK Government are being challenged in both practical and legal ways. Some could argue the greater need for oversight and scrutiny is key, both are important during any normal time however they should be influenced on a wider level during this crisis. In addition to this some could also argue that liberties and democracy is being invaded. The Government has produced emergency regulations to prevent the spread of the virus the regulations were issued under the emergency procedure in the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984. The practical changes to the government due to social distancing mean that online meetings must take place and remote work, this tests the governments connectivity to unsure the correct amount of communication is being done. Some may ask, how differently have worldwide Parliaments responded? In some countries parliaments they have completely shut down. There is massive upheaval facing the House of Commons when they were due to take an Easter break, but concerns were raised about spreading the virus, this holiday was brought forward. I firmly believe a Parliament which is strong normally will be strong during a crisis. For example, China has made massive progress due to their firm restrictions and the obeying of those rules from the public. For the UK to maintain a strong democracy even during a pandemic, scrutiny and accountability are important because all evidence suggest that it led to a better public policy, better governments, and stronger policies. To fight a pandemic battle Parliament must be engaged, in order to shape the Government.