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desalination is for the process of removing salt from sea water.
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∙ 12y ago
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Why can an MPs job be classed as difficult?
Nowadays, an MPs job can be very difficult for a number of reasons including pressure from not only the members of their constituency's but also their parliamentary party's influence and the idea of national interest. Many MPs fear deselection therefore choose to side with their party whip in order to remain well liked and perhaps be considered for promotions. However, this is a no win situation, for if they remain loyal to their party, there is a huge chance that they will be unsuccessful at the next elections, whereas, if they do stand by their constituents, then the party whip will make them independent and again they are not likely to win the election, as it is often the case that people vote for the party and not the person. It is therefore inevitable that regardless of their decisions, their jobs and public status are always under threat. In the case of the smoking ban, which was introduced in Scotland during March of 2006, this would have caused quite a lot of issues for any MP who perhaps came from a constituency where cigarettes were a key industry or main provider of jobs, for example where many people work in a cigarette factory. The fear of losing their jobs would mean many locals would pressure the MP to avoid voting for the ban. Another of the major influences on an MP include pressure groups, in this situation the two main ones in this case would be, ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) as they would try to persuade the MP that the ban is in the best interests of the public whereas another would be a Trade Union which would fight to safeguard the jobs of the people. Therefore, overall it is up to the MP to decide which decision would be best for the national interest. They would have to consider that, away from their constituency; the ban in general, would benefit everyone's health. However, in many cases, the MPs personal opinion and conscience can affect their decisions; they could personally dislike smoking and believe that it should be banned in public places. Another example of this would be the laws against abortion as an MPs religion can play a big part with regards to the vote they make. In conclusion, it has hopefully been made clear that the conflicting demands mentioned above make the role of an MP in a democracy an impossible one, but this differs as it depends on their skills as an individual and their effectiveness as an MP is down to their individual qualities and if they use them successfully.
Why do some believe that Parliament's power has reduced in recent years?
It can be said that in recent years it appears that Parliament power and influence has been reduced however, it has to be considered that in some ways, it has infact become more efficient and stronger therefore there are many arguments for and against the reduction of Parliament's power. Certainly, in some ways Parliament has lost a great deal of power when passing bills to benefit society. The parliament is bicameral, with an upper house, the House of Lords, and a lower house, the House of Commons. The Queen is the third component of Parliament.It is sometimes stated that the House of Lords is unfair as many peers are appointed a place in the House as an award by the Prime Minister and none are elected by the public itself, therefore, it is seen as an undemocratic institution in a democracy. The House of Lords provides checks and balances however it can also be overruled, as can the House of Commons by a backbench revolt. There have been several backbench revolts in recent years including the the debate of Foundation hospitals and Air Traffic control however the most controversial was the revolt over the invasion of Iraq. Many people not only in Parliament but also within the public spoke out against the invasion of Iraq in 2003 when Tony Blair declared War on the country for supposedly possessing weapons of mass destruction, however to this day there has still been no proof that such weapons ever existed. The House of Commons is extremely beneficial to Parliament as it ensures that it is effective and fair. Government ministers (including the Prime Minister) must regularly answer questions in the House of Commons during Question Time and there are a number of select committees that scrutinise particular issues and the workings of the government. There are also mechanisms that allow members of the House of Commons to bring to the attention of the government particular issues which are affecting their constituents. However, it must be considered that the Whip system is needed to ensure that business in Government is carried out correctly and there are severe consequences if the Whip is not obeyed such as deselection, this means that an MP is made independent of the party and will often lose their constituency as people tend top vote for the party rather than the individual.However, the whip can also be used as an example that Parliament has not lost power. Some say that the Queen has no real power and acts more as a figurehead with no important role in Parliament. But, as an institution, the Queen is still powerful, as Royal Assent is still required for all Bills to become law, through prerogative powers and the appointment of the government. The prerogative powers include among others the abilities to dissolve Parliament, make treaties, declare war, and award honours. The monarch also chooses the Prime Minister, who then forms a government from members of the houses of parliament. However in recent years, it can be said that the Prime Minister has become more Presidential. Some say that he bypasses the Cabinet when making decisions and now relies on spindoctors and advisers more than ever before. Many Prime Ministers have been accused of changing information to benefit themselves. Blair was sometimes perceived as paying insufficient attention both to the views of his own Cabinet colleagues and to those of the House of Commons. His style was sometimes criticised as not that of a prime minister and head of government, which he was, but of a president and head of state, which he was not. Pressure groups are also becoming increasingly more influencial on decisions made in Parliament as well as single issue campaigns also having more of an impact. It can also be said that Parliament itself is bypassed by the European Union in terms of importance for example when they decided to include new members which increased immigration to the UK. Parliament power also depends on the size of the majority, for example when Labour's majority fell to 25 in 2005, the Commons had a great influence that Blair could not afford to ignore. Media pressure is also highly important as the Prime Minister would strive to appear to be a strong leader and keep the public on side. In conclusion, there are many arguments for and against Parliament losing power, but certain aspects have been devolved to the British public and councils. This however has not reduced their role and they still maintain a position of great power in Britain.
