The most searched questions about Alan Campbell and the Leader of the House role — answered with data.
What does the Leader of the House of Commons do?
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The Leader of the House is a Cabinet minister responsible for managing the government's legislative programme in the Commons. They schedule debates and parliamentary time, table the weekly business statement, and act as a bridge between the government and backbenchers. Alan Campbell took on the role as Lord President of the Council alongside it, which adds Privy Council functions to the brief.
What is an Urgent Question?
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An Urgent Question (UQ) allows any MP to demand that a minister come to the House to answer questions on a matter of urgent public importance, granted at the Speaker's discretion. Under Campbell's tenure, UQ sessions have increased by 18% compared to the same period in 2023/24, indicating greater parliamentary scrutiny of government decisions.
Why can't Parliament sit longer to pass more bills?
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Parliamentary time is a finite resource managed by the Leader of the House through the usual channels process — negotiations with the official opposition. Bills on-time performance stands at 78% against an 85% target. The shortfall is attributed to complex legislation including the Employment Rights Bill and Planning Reform Bill requiring more committee time than originally scheduled.
How do e-petitions work and what is the new threshold?
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E-petitions on the Parliament website now trigger a debate in Westminster Hall once they reach 50,000 signatures — down from 100,000. This change, implemented under Campbell's tenure, means more topics are debated in Parliament. Petitions reaching 10,000 still receive a government response. The lower threshold has resulted in a 40% increase in petition debates year-on-year.
What is proxy voting and who can use it?
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Proxy voting allows an MP to authorise another MP to vote on their behalf when they cannot attend the division lobby. Made permanent under Campbell's leadership, it originally covered parental leave absences but has been extended to cover serious illness and carer responsibilities. Critics argue it dilutes the principle of personal accountability in voting.