Questions to the PM versus questions by the PM: an examination of the state and nature of ‘Punch and Judy’ politics during PMQs at Westminster

ABSTRACT

We know about what the public thinks of PMQs, and we know an increasing amount about questions to PMs. However, very little is known about the nature and state of questions that the PM asks during the procedure. Controlling for the average length of PMQs, we find that while the average number of Order Paper questions reached has stayed relatively static, the total number of questions asked has nearly halved over time while questions asked by the PM (including questions levelled at both the Leader of the Opposition and the opposition) have increased over time. We also find that specific blaming by the PM of the previous government is far higher right after party rotation in government (Blair and Cameron) than after PM rotation intra-party government (Brown and May). Finally, we find that Cameron was significantly more likely to ask questions during PMQs when this correlated with higher public opinion net approval ratings.

KEYWORDS:

• PMQs
• government
• opposition
• leaders
• questions

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributors

Mark Shephard is a Senior Lecturer in School of Government and Public Policy at The University of Strathclyde. Research interests include political behaviour and legislatures.

Daniel Braby is a researcher and student in the School of Government and Public Policy.

Notes

1 Order Paper questions are those that have been tabled at least three days in advance and that are successfully selected from a random computer selection. The first MP to have a question selected is listed as Q1 and the Order Paper lists the first 15 questions that are selected. Not all 15 questions may be reached in the time allocated as the procedure as questions and PM replies have no set timing logic.

2 Supplementary questions are follow-up questions on the same topic. The Leader of the Opposition is typically granted most leeway on supplementary questions during PMQs.

3 Given that the first session of parliament for David Cameron spans two years, the first sessions for Blair, Brown and May are contrasted with a more comparable N that includes cases for the first year of Cameron. The 2016–2017 parliamentary session is a little under a year due to the early 2017 General Election.