Andy Burnham has long been a critic of the parliamentary whipping system, arguing that it concentrates power in too few hands and weakens the role of elected MPs. Could a Burnham government take a more relaxed approach to party discipline? Might MPs be given greater freedom to represent their constituents, or would the realities of governing quickly outweigh the case for reform? Drawing on newly published research by parliamentary rebellions expert Professor Philip Cowley, we explore what parliamentary management might look like under a Burnham premiership.

The parliamentary whip is about far more than securing votes in the division lobbies. Might it allow greater scope for MPs with relevant expertise or constituency interests to serve on legislative committees, invest more in the pastoral management and wellbeing of Labour MPs, and place greater emphasis on career development and job satisfaction within the Parliamentary Labour Party? Could a Burnham government take a more collegiate approach to these responsibilities? Or would the practical demands of governing mean that traditional methods of party management prevail?

We also turn our attention to one of Westminster’s lesser-known legislative procedures: Presentation Bills. These are bills that are often never debated and, in some cases, are never even drafted. While they rarely become law, they provide MPs with a valuable opportunity to raise the profile of an issue, signal political intent, and build support for future reform. We discuss how MPs use Presentation Bills strategically, what they can – and cannot – achieve, how many have become law in recent years, and why they remain an important part of an MP’s parliamentary toolkit.

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