Private Members' Bills in the UK Parliament: Is There an ‘Electoral Connection’?

Abstract

Private Members' Bills are a small but significant part of the UK parliament's legislative work. Many are proposed but few pass into law. This article argues that Private Members' legislation has a broad analogy to constituency service behaviour. In making legislative proposals MPs can cast themselves as active and caring representatives and, in consequence, MPs who make proposals receive a small but significant increase in vote share. This electoral connection also prompts MPs from more marginal seats to be more active in proposing Private Members' Bills.