‘Politics done differently. Problem solving, not point scoring.' That was the familiar pledge from Andy Burnham in his first statement as the new Prime Minister. Labour MPs nodded along enthusiastically, back for a new term and feeling better about their prospects after the PM's summer honeymoon. But they would also have been left in no doubt that when it comes to problem solving, he is looking to mayors, not to MPs – which leaves them wondering what their role will be in a rewired state.
It's a fair question to ask. In our political system, the basic constitutional role of a Westminster MP is relatively clear – they have the power to make laws, a responsibility to make sure those laws work as intended, and the ability to scrutinise and challenge the actions of ministers who exercise power on their behalf. Ministers can be encouraged or harangued in debate, and any judged by the whips to have lost the confidence of backbenchers tend to find themselves back among the flock sooner rather than later, with rising stars plucked out to replace them.
