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The Meaningful Votes: Voting on Brexit in the British House of Commons

Author

Listed:
  • Toke Aidt

    (University of Cambridge
    University of Cambridge
    CESifo)

  • Felix Grey

    (University of Cambridge
    University of Cambridge)

  • Alexandru Savu

    (University of Cambridge
    University of Cambridge)

Abstract

Why do politicians rebel and vote against the party line when high stakes bills come to the floor of the legislature? To address that question, we leverage the three so-called Meaningful Votes that took place in the British House of Commons between January and March 2019 on the Withdrawal Agreement that the Conservative government had reached with the European Union. The bill was defeated decisively three times following a major revolt amongst Conservative backbench Members of Parliament (MPs). We find that three factors influenced their rebellion calculus: the MP’s own ideological views, constituency preferences and career concerns. Somewhat paradoxically, the rebellion within the Conservative Party came from MPs who had supported Leave in the 2016 Brexit referendum and from MPs elected in Leave-leaning constituencies.

Suggested Citation

  • Toke Aidt & Felix Grey & Alexandru Savu, 2021. "The Meaningful Votes: Voting on Brexit in the British House of Commons," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 186(3), pages 587-617, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:pubcho:v:186:y:2021:i:3:d:10.1007_s11127-019-00762-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11127-019-00762-9
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Brexit; Roll call votes; Rebels; Party discipline; Party coherence; House of Commons;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior

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