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David Torrance on Muck Rack

David Torrance

  • Constitutional Researcher, Urban Explorer and Cyclist, Commons Library
London
As seen in: The Waterstones Podcast, MSN UK, Daily Mail, Financial Times, The Guardian, The Independent (UK), The Telegraph, Wiley Online Library, POLITICO Europe, The Irish Times and
@CommonsLibrary Clerk covering N. Ireland, Wales, Scotland & monarchy; author of non-fiction - agent @NorthbankTalent

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Articles

How is a government formed?

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By David Torrance
| House of Commons Library
The Prime Minister advises the Monarch who should become members of the government. By convention, ministers will be MPs or members of the House of Lords. Sir Keir Starmer has said he will resign as premier once the Labour leadership contest has concluded. His successor can form a new government with different ministers. This briefing looks at how a new government is formed under a combination of the royal prerogative (non-statutory powers) and statute (Acts of Parliament).
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Secretary of State for Scotland

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By David Torrance
| House of Commons Library
It is a hundred years since the contemporary post of Secretary of State for Scotland was created. Since the Scottish Parliament was established 1999, the Secretary of State has been responsible mainly for non-devolved matters affecting Scotland. This briefing looks at the events of July 1926 and the office of Scottish Secretary as it is today.
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Commanding confidence

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By David Torrance
| House of Commons Library
In the House of Commons, “confidence” is another way of referring to the assumed support of a majority of MPs. Part of the UK’s unwritten constitution is that the government must command the confidence of the House to hold office, as otherwise it cannot rely on winning votes in the House and passing legislation. This briefing examines the meaning of “confidence” in a parliamentary context and provides examples of how that confidence can be tested, as well as what happens when it is lost.
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