England Travel Tips - England Travel Guide

The first thing to remember when trying to understand our somewhat complex system of government is that England is not the United Kingdom and vice versa – it is part of the UK but only a part. The famous British Parliament, based in London, is the centre of government for the UK, which also includes Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but each of these also has its own government or Assembly as it is known. Some things come under the jurisdiction of Parliament for all four of these so-called Home Nations, while for others Parliament only has responsibility for England and the national Assemblies have the responsibility in the other countries. Among the former are defence and the economy; among the latter health, libraries and most aspects of transport. This system not only causes confusion; there is also the anomaly that is referred to as the “West Lothian Question” (because it was first raised in Parliament by a Member of Parliament from there). This refers to the fact that Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish MPs (Members of Parliament) are able to vote on matters that affect only England because they sit in the UK Parliament. The only solution to this anomaly would be to create an England-only assembly or parliament to deal with these matters, but there are no plans or intentions to do this at present.

Putting that issue aside, the system of government works roughly like this. Parliament is made up of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The Commons has 651 elected Members of Parliament (MPs), who represent local constituencies. The House of Lords is made up of 1,185 hereditary and life peers and peeresses, and the two archbishops and the 24 most senior bishops of the established Church of England. The centre of parliamentary power is the House of Commons – the House of Lords is considered a revising chamber and although the Lords can reject a bill that has been passed by the Commons, they only rarely do so. However they do from time to time refer a bill back for amendment or delay its passing.

The top layer of government is the Cabinet, consisting of the most senior ministers appointed by the Prime Minister. All of these will belong to the ruling party (currently the Labour Party) and are supported by a large number of junior ministers. An MP who is neither a minister nor junior minister is referred to as a “back-bencher” because he or she must sit in the back rows in Parliament. Ministers are collectively responsible for government decisions and individually responsible for their own departments.

The second largest party forms the official Opposition, with its own leader and “shadow cabinet”. This is currently the Conservative Party; only they and the Labour Party have been in power in recent (post war) times and only these two are considered realistic options to rule at present, though other parties challenge them.

According to the law the Queen is head of the executive branch of the government and an integral part of the legislative system. In practice however her role is largely symbolic. She is never involved in the day-to-day operation of the government, and is impartial and acts only on the advice of her ministers. So although all Bills require Royal Assent, this is merely a formality. Likewise when the Queen opens Parliament at the start of each session (that is after a holiday, not every day that Parliament sits!), the contents of her speech, which sets out the priorities for the next few months, are determined by the ruling party not by her whim. Nevertheless she is the head of State, and considered by many an important symbol of national unity.

England General Tips

England General Tips

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