Can the UK PM veto bills that are passed by the HoC?

Question

If not who can?

Answer 1

The prime minister is not the head of state. As such he is a member of the house of commons himself, and tells his party (by way of the whips) which way to vote most of the time. If it was unlikely a bill would pass the whips would 'force' all party members to vote for it - though there could still be rebels. A prime minister who didn't have a majority in the house (sitting in a hung parliament) would often meet the situation where the bill went in favour of the opposition - as it would go if there were enough rebels who didn't toe the party line.

There's nothing the prime minister can do about this, and it makes him appear VERY weak - when Tony Blair first had a bill fail on him his leadership qualities were questioned; it didn't happen until many years into his premiership.

The prime minister cannot veto a bill passed by the commons - but the lords can (only a couple of times, then the Commons can force it through), and so can the Queen (though no monarch has done so since the 18th century)

Answer 2

The queen can veto bills by refusing royal assent. However, this hasn't happened in a couple hundred years.


But since the PM is the head of the party with the majority in the commons, it's highly likely that a bill he didn't approve of would be passed in the first place.