The Parliamentary Timetable

The UK government dominates Parliament. One way in which it is able to do so is through its control of the Parliamentary Timetable.

Each week, a member of the UK cabinet, the Leader of the House of Commons, devises the Parliamentary Timetable. This is simply a list of all the things that will be done in Parliament in the coming week. This might include which debates will be held and which votes taken.

This gives the UK government control over Parliament because it ensures that the legislation it wishes to pass is given priority in Parliament.

The opposition parties or backbenchers from the governing party might wish to discuss what they see as important matters but as the government controls the Parliamentary timetable and therefore what is debated and voted upon, only the issues it wishes to pursue will be heard.

This gives the UK government control over Parliament, who is bound to whatever the government wants to do.