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The Official Opposition is a defining feature of the Westminster system. The existence of a recognised, institutionalised opposition ensures that the government faces structured challenge and that alternative policies and perspectives are represented in Parliament. This lesson examines the role of the Opposition, the significance of Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs), and the effectiveness of both in holding the government to account.
The Official Opposition is the largest party in the House of Commons that is not in government. Its leader is styled the Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition (now His Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition) and receives a salary and resources to support the role.
The Leader of the Opposition appoints a Shadow Cabinet — a team of senior MPs who "shadow" (mirror) the government's Cabinet, each responsible for scrutinising a specific government department. The Shadow Cabinet forms an alternative government-in-waiting.
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