War powers, Rwanda ‘mayhem’ and Ian Dunt on the state of Westminster

The Rwanda Bill is through the Commons. Rishi Sunak has faced down his internal critics and diffused a backbench rebellion. The Bill now heads off to the House of Lords: What mayhem awaits it?

This week’s air strikes against Houthi camps in Yemen to protect Red Sea shipping also prompted debate about the role Parliament should play when the Government deploys military force. Dr James Strong joins us in the studio to discuss Parliament and war powers.

And one of the best books about Westminster for many years has been penned by the political commentator Ian Dunt. As luck would have it, Ruth and Mark were with Ian at the parliamentary nerdathon, the Study of Parliament Group annual conference, in Oxford. So, they got him to talk about his diagnosis of the problems with Parliament and his solutions.

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• 🔗 Does Parliament decide on war? Revisiting the Syria vote 10 years on – James Strong
• 🔗 Why are MPs speaking more often but for less time? Five possible reasons – Caroline Bhattacharya and Stephen Holden Bates
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Parliament Matters is a Hansard Society production supported by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust • Produced by Luke Boga Mitchell, Hansard Society

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