MPs call for stronger Commons

The MPs fear their power to scrutinise are being eroded

Around 130 MPs from across the political spectrum have signed a motion calling for a strengthening of parliament's power to hold the government to account.

Signatories to the motion include former cabinet ministers, select committee chairmen and two candidates from the Conservative leadership contest.

The role of parliament has weakened, is weakening and ought to be strengthened

Commons' motion

The move is the first Commons motion from the new Parliament First group which was launched shortly after Labour won its second landslide victory earlier in June.

The goal of the group is the restoration of the right of parliament to firmly hold the executive to account.

Newly-appointed Leader of the House Robin Cook is already under pressure to promote reforms to ensure that backbench MPs have a greater voice - especially in the face of Labour's massive majority.

Mr Fisher is leading the call for greater powers for parliament

The motion, tabled by Labour's former culture minister Mark Fisher, does not make specific demands for changes to the relationship between the executive and the legislature.

Instead it makes the call for the government to rethink its response to the March report of the Commons Liaison Committee, which recommended a shake-up in the select committee system.

Power of nomination

The report called for nominations for membership of the influential committees, which scrutinise the work of government departments, to be taken out of the hands of party whips, and it recommended weekly Commons debates on committee reports.

It also called on Prime Minister Tony Blair to make himself available once a year for questioning by the Liaison Committee.

Mr Fisher's motion states that "the role of parliament has weakened, is weakening and ought to be strengthened".

Among its signatories are Tory leadership hopefuls Kenneth Clarke and David Davis, Conservative former Cabinet ministers Michael Howard, Sir George Young, Douglas Hogg and John Redwood and Labour select committee chairmen Gwyneth Dunwoody, Tony Wright and Bruce George.