The Conservatives have a majority but what happens in Parliament still matters

During times of majority the government has the upper hand when it comes to getting legislation through Parliament. It controls the order paper most of the time, can plan its agenda, whip MPs, and have confidence that it will win crucial votes. But Parliament also has an important role in scrutinising the government, and ministers will want to avoid embarrassment or mistakes when they are being scrutinised by fellow MPs.  

Boris Johnson will want his government to compare well to his predecessor. The longer it went on, the more Theresa May’s government was focused on survival. Record numbers of ministerial resignations, defeats in both the Commons and the Lords, and even being found in contempt of Parliament all became part of a story of an increasingly dysfunctional government. But the resignations, parliamentary missteps and government reverses also became increasingly normal. They will surely be rarer under a majority government – and will be noticed more as a result.    

MPs still have multiple opportunities to challenge the government

It is extremely unlikely that the government will lose votes in the Commons now. Gone are the chances for MPs to grab control of the order paper and force through legislation against the government’s will. Gone too are the opportunities to force the government to publish civil service advice using Humble Addresses. The opposition won’t bother with votes of confidence either. 

But MPs can still pressure the government in multiple, different ways: statements in the chamber, departmental questions, urgent questions and emergency debates, PMQs and select committee hearings, backbench and opposition-led debates. Parliamentary questions provide MPs with frequent opportunities to try and get information out of the government. Debates provide opportunities for individual MPs to raise issues and get their voices heard.

As well as influencing ministers directly, these mechanisms can help MPs get media attention. This matters. In 1999, even with a landslide majority, Tony Blair found his welfare bill in trouble when he faced a well-organised protest of disabled activists outside Downing Street at the same time as he faced pressure from his own backbench MPs.

What seems like a small policy, easily passed in Parliament, can quickly become troublesome for government if effectively opposed. Think of ‘Pastygate’, when chancellor George Osborne’s planned tax of hot baked goods caused a public outcry. That was just one element of an 'omnishambles' Budget which caused considerable embarrassment to the government, despite its majority.

The prime minister may change his attitude to Parliament

Boris Johnson’s first four months as prime minister will have left some MPs with concerns about how seriously he takes parliamentary scrutiny. His decision to prorogue Parliament for five weeks until that was struck down by the Supreme Court, his refusal to appear before the liaison committee and his disparagement of parliamentary efforts to block his plans will all be taken by some as evidence of disregard for the value of Parliament.

But with a new majority and a new start there are other factors he will have to consider. Presenting his government as one that functions well means avoiding the embarrassing resignations, u-turns or media storms that can flow from a misstep in Parliament. Ministers can lose their jobs over a single error – Amber Rudd’s fateful appearance before the home affairs select committee in April 2018 saw her resign when it became clear she had misled the committee over Windrush immigration targets.  

The PM may also now be concerned about his legacy. Performances at PMQs or in front of the liaison committee will become part of the narrative about how accomplished he is as a prime minister. Likewise, how well he manages his backbenches and navigates his legislation through Parliament will tell a story about his control of the party.

Brexit and minority government changed the rules of what was normal in the last Parliament. With majority government back, many will feel that Parliament’s role is diminished – but the Johnson government cannot afford to be complacent.