This list notes when a Member has changed allegiance from one political party to another or decided to sit as an independent MP. Instances of Members losing or resigning a party whip are also noted.
Documents to download
-
Pre-election contacts between civil servants and opposition parties (288 KB, PDF)
By convention, opposition parties are entitled to enter into confidential discussions with senior civil servants in the run-up to a general election. Such discussions must be sanctioned by the Prime Minister of the day. They are intended primarily to allow opposition spokespersons to familiarise themselves with aspects of departmental organisation, and to inform civil servants of likely changes to the machinery of government in the event of a change of government.
In April 2014, it became known that the current Prime Minister had written to the Leader of the Opposition to inform him that pre-election contacts between the opposition and the Civil Service would be authorised from October 2014, 6 months prior to the May 2015 general election This note outlines the current arrangements and also provides a brief history of the convention. It notes recommendations for change from the Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee and the Institute for Government, made in May 2014.
Documents to download
-
Pre-election contacts between civil servants and opposition parties (288 KB, PDF)
Related posts
-
-
This list attempts to capture all instances where an apology has been made on the floor of the House of Commons since 1979
-
This paper discusses the way that Parliament scrutinises the Government's proposals for taxation, set out in the annual Budget statement. It looks at how this procedure may be affected by the timing of a General Election, and the decision in 2017 to move the Budget from the Spring to the Autumn. It also provides some suggestions for further reading.
