Duckings of a Lame Duck

By u/Hobnob88

In what are increasingly hallowed halls of democracy, the cornerstone of accountability lies in our parliamentary process. However, continued events have unveiled a distressing pattern. One of where Government Ministers evade questions posed by parliamentarians. This concerning trend not only undermines the principles of transparency and accountability but also erodes public trust in the integrity of our democratic institutions. The essence of liberal parliamentary democracy is the notion of checks and balances, where elected representatives hold the government accountable for its actions and decisions. Central to this is the ability of parliamentarians to question Government ministers on various matters of public interest and issue. Yet, increasingly, we witness a culture of evasion and obfuscation, as ministers sidestep inquiries with vague responses, outright refusal to engage and lame-duck excuses.

In just another latest string of an apathetic Government to the plights of this country, the Housing Secretary completely failed to attend MQs at all. Which is an even more depressing feat given the mere number of questions asked. Only seven questions (three Liberal Democrat, two Conservative and two Volt) were asked and the Government still failed to answer them. This article will focus on Liberal Democrats questions, but the sheer negligence is even greater when factoring the questions avoided by the Government from other opposition parties too. But anyway, this term we have been observant of this trend in which the Government does not actually have the guts to answer the questions posed by the Liberal Democrats. Where time after time it will show the questions missed most by the Government come from the Liberal Democrats. Avoiding responsibility, scrutiny and accountability whilst showing their contempt for the core issues and interests of the people in this country. The following latest sessions saw this present in:

# Liberal Democrat Questions avoided by the Government over the last Month

## Housing MQs

> “Deputy Speaker, Can the Secretary of State answer for the impact of their continued rent control policy on housing supply in the long term?”

— By u/Hobnob88

> “Deputy Speaker, Does the Government recognise that there is lots of undeveloped and wasted land, notably greenbelt land that is not actually the images of rich natural environment and wildlife?”

— By u/Hobnob88

> “Deputy Speaker, Can the Government answer for how it has worked to increase the supply of housing this term which is the biggest issue regarding soaring rents and prices?”

— By u/Hobnob88

## Business MQs

> “Deputy Speaker, Foreign investment in a crucial part in economic growth and development in this age of globalization, bringing jobs, opportunities and increased capital flows, however there are concerns that the economic environment is not improving and is actively harming investment in Britain. Can the Secretary of State answer what actions they have taken to safeguard and increase foreign investment in the UK?”

— Asked by u/Waffel-lol

> “Deputy Speaker, What actions has this Government taken to capitalise on the innovative steps taken by the Busan treaty for digital trade between Japan and South Korea that I negotiated and passed last term?”

— Asked by u/BlueEarlGrey

## Home Affairs MQs:

> “Deputy Speaker, Does the Secretary of State believe that the Government is doing enough to counter the presence of foreign state actors interfering in national security and affairs?”

— Asked by u/Waffel-lol

> “Deputy Speaker, Can the Secretary of State how they are bolstering the UK’s intelligence cooperation with our key partners?”

— Asked by u/Waffel-lol

> “Deputy Speaker, Can the Government answer for how they will be working to break the model established by those who engage in human trafficking and the illicit organ trade within and through the United Kingdom?”

— By u/ZebraTropic

## Foreign Affairs MQs:

> “Deputy Speaker, A good deal of fluff and empty statements in that but what’s strikingly missing is any action from this Government around COP28 and how it used (or rather didn’t use it) to bring substantive global progress on addressing climate change. Again, a backseat Government when it comes to foreign affairs and actually addressing global issues, especially on climate change. Don’t just say “we need to do more and faster” yet feel content in dispersing that with a “it’s a step in the right direction”, actually make the effort, make the action, and bring the policies and strategies to make real substantial progress. It’s clear that the Government did not really do anything at COP28 (if the Secretary’s predecessor even attended which I doubt) and it’s clear the Government has not been doing anything since to further the goals and interests of COP28 on the international stage. Now can the Secretary of State answer why this Government settles on the bare minimum that has plagued this matter over the last 20 years and failed to take initiative on global efforts in climate change during and since COP28?”

— By u/Waffel-lol

> “Deputy Speaker, I am a member of the opposition benches, I do not retain the prerogative or privileges of the Secretary of State to conduct international treaties and legislation. I asked about international convergence on climate change policy, not domestic legislation. The Liberal Democrats who actually have plans on this would be glad to help however I question why the Government does not have its own ideas on addressing this key issue, something that if they attended COP28 they would have utilised, and given it is they who hold the powers to do so?”

— By u/Waffel-lol

> “Deputy Speaker, “happy to look it” however this isn’t a commitment to UN security council action, this isn’t a commitment to response of the South Korean requests, nor is this a commitment to progress. For a Government that wants to claim its internationalism and reject claims of it being back seat in foreign policy, it’s doing an awful amount of that. It’s been clear that the sanctions haven’t worked and it’s been clear that continuing the same course of action hasn’t worked, so why does the Government insist on maintaining a failing status quo that jeopardises not just the lives of South Koreans but global peace and stability?”

— By u/BlueEarlGrey

> “Deputy Speaker, “Happy to explore any action the South Koreans put forward” oh really? because the Government has been awfully quiet on this matter until it being raised in this session and in my other question, the Secretary failed to actually bring forward a commitment to action on the already very present South Korean requests for UNSC action, a position to which the UK enjoys yet this Government has failed to utilised so far. ‘Standing ready to assist’ is not the word choice I would use here, but rather laying ready to do nothing and continue the failing status quo. A Government that lacks initiative, especially with the work I made to bring Britain into taking a more firm partnership with these nations with my Busan Treaty as Foreign Secretary, it is saddening to see the Government continue to allow their branded “devil” of a country, the US, to guide British foreign policy. I have no further questions, Deputy Speaker, i’m done here and I believe the Secretary of State is too.”

— By u/BlueEarlGrey

> “Deputy Speaker, The answer from the Secretary of state truly shows how the Government hasn’t been paying attention in Sudan. The UN is currently impaired in its major efforts of delivering aid given the fact the ports and other key sites are currently under military occupation and currently in conflict. Aid workers and such have been shot at, killed and caught in violent conflict, so the Government has really just made a response that means nothing. Not to even mention, genocide is not addressed by throwing humanitarian aid, suddenly that won’t stop military forces committing ethnic cleansing, what a tone deaf approach. So therefore I ask, what exactly will the Government be doing to address these realities that actually make progress?”

— By u/Hobnob88

> “Deputy Speaker, For a department that “does a wonderful job” the fact it’s Secretary of State has failed to remain present at all of their MQs session without needing to be swapped out is disgracefully hilarious. And furthermore for a department that “does a wonderful job” it awfully struggles to answer basic questions on said department and its affairs, routinely throwing them back up to the Foreign Office. Whilst the department’s existence may not be the Secretary’s decision, they certainly ought to answer for why the DID secretary isn’t picking up their slack and instead pawning off its clear responsibilities to the Foreign Office?”

— By u/Hobnob88

## International Development MQs:

> “Deputy Speaker, UK development assistance was never limited to just Commonwealth to my knowledge so the Government may be congratulating itself for a non-achievement there. Not to mention nor is not limiting oneself to a select few nations is an actual mechanism to addressing increasing geoeconomic fragmentation. In fact it really appears the Secretary has no clue what i’m talking about regarding geoeconomic fragmentation based off their response. It’s not something that has been impaired because of provision of aid being selective, no. So I ask again, will the Government continue to fail to understand crucial matters regarding global economic development or will it actually bring forward genuine action to address the lengthy concerns that both the UN and IMF warn on this subject?”

— By u/Waffel-lol

> “Deputy Speaker, Therefore can the Secretary state which nations the Government will be endeavouring on implementing this strategy for capacity building given it so far has not done any of that?”

— By u/BlueEarlGrey

> “Deputy Speaker, And will the Government be reviewing its current aid programmes to ensure they uphold these principles and any newly established aid programmes as there are very much cases with current programmes that do not adhere to this and critics and states argue reinforce traditionalist dynamics?”

— By u/BlueEarlGrey

> “Deputy Speaker, Yet the question pertains to international aid and development in Sudan as that are relief measures for humanitarian needs, if the Secretary is relaying a question on that to the Foreign Secretary it’s truly only reinforcing the claims of some that the office shouldn’t exist in its alone. So I ask then that is this Government actually committed to bringing forward relief for Sudan in addressing a humanitarian crisis or will it continue its habit of ping ponging away its issues?”

— By u/Hobnob88

> “Deputy Speaker, The Government already? yet can the Secretary of state please name which forums the Government has utilised and which key global issues it has brought forward to bring collective action on?”

— u/StraitsofMagellan

> “Deputy Speaker, But what initiative regarding action has the Government actually taken this term in doing that beyond continuing a status quo that is failing that?”

— u/Fusilierz

Nonetheless, even silence is still an answer. Which in the case of the Government often means they have no answer. Not that the questions they manage to answer are actual answers anyway, one only has to look at the House of Lords oral question responses to see exactly what I mean.

Ultimately this is nothing new, this Government has seen some of, if not the worst performances at Ministerial Questions. Multiple sessions of last minute various changes where despite so, Ministers fail to answer every question. Multiple sessions of little to no Ministerial turnout. Multiple sessions where even if the Minister shows up, a majority of questions asked remain unanswered by them. Even in other cases where Parliamentarians have taken to the press for the Government to answer missed questions, they still have refused to. Is this at all the showings of a Government that values the basic responsibilities of holders of public office? of course not. It is the signs of a lame duck of a Government that knows its days are numbered, littered with Ministers that have achieved next to nothing occupying husks in their offices. The British people frankly deserve a Government that can do even the bare minimum in their job descriptions, and what we currently have is far below that. As a parliamentary liberal democracy it is imperative we, the public, demand better. Integrity, accountability and responsibility must be restored to Government.

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