What Are Private Members' Bills?

Private members' bills are proposed laws which are tabled before the House of Commons or the House of Laws by backbench MPs or peers. In the Commons, a ballot is held at the tart of each parliamentary session in which 20 names are pulled out of a hat. Just ten Fridays are set aside to debate and vote on the bills. Of these lucky members, fewer than half will see their bills discussed, let alone see them go all the way to becoming an Act of Parliaments, which very rarely happens. Members can also introduce 10-minute rule bills, which gives them 10 minutes to present their bill to parliament before there is a vote. However, these are also rarely successful.

The obstacles preventing these bills from becoming law are numerous. Firstly, Friday is the day when many MPs return to their constituencies and there is danger that the House will not be quorate. Opponents may "talk" the bill out, preventing debate from closing. Secondly, if the government wishes, it can put a number of spanners in the legislative works. Ti can mobilise a majority to strangle or bill, or alternatively if it agrees with it, the government can make time available. The most famous of successful private members' bills is the 1967 Abortion Act, introduced by David Steel.