[Politics] Defecting MP,s.

Leekbrookgull · Jan 19, 2022

Ok its a politics thread but i am asking from the democratic/democracy point in which all MP,s tell us that they believe in ? Then surely switching from one party to another during a sitting government term should automatically mean a By-election. This is not just about today but over the years. We keep hearing about clearing up politics/Westminster then surely this must be high up the list. :thumbsup:

Harry Wilson's tackle · Jan 19, 2022

Leekbrookgull said:
Ok its a politics thread but i am asking from the democratic/democracy point in which all MP,s tell us that they believe in ? Then surely switching from one party to another during a sitting government term should automatically mean a By-election. This is not just about today but over the years. We keep hearing about clearing up politics/Westminster then surely this must be high up the list.

To change one's mind can be a virtue. If labour expect the electorate to change its mind then why can't a tory MP?

Anyway, were you bleating when 29 labour MPs defected in 1981?

I actually agree with you that there should be a by-election but I am suspicious that you raise the issue only now :shrug:

And there never has been one. Churchill was a famous floor-crosser, so...

clapham_gull · Jan 19, 2022

Leekbrookgull said:
Ok its a politics thread but i am asking from the democratic/democracy point in which all MP,s tell us that they believe in ? Then surely switching from one party to another during a sitting government term should automatically mean a By-election. This is not just about today but over the years. We keep hearing about clearing up politics/Westminster then surely this must be high up the list. [emoji106]

Best ask the PM why he threw 21 MPs out the party then.....

Sent from my SM-A526B using Tapatalk

WATFORD zero · Jan 19, 2022

Whatever anyone thinks about it, it's a simple fact that with FPTP you vote for an individual, not a party.

So, if that individual then does a U-turn, so do all the people who voted for them. Not that I'm suggesting there is any issue with FPTP :wink:

Creaky · Jan 19, 2022

Leekbrookgull said:
Ok its a politics thread but i am asking from the democratic/democracy point in which all MP,s tell us that they believe in ? Then surely switching from one party to another during a sitting government term should automatically mean a By-election. This is not just about today but over the years. We keep hearing about clearing up politics/Westminster then surely this must be high up the list.

Absolutely NOT

We elect a person, not a member of a political party.

The whole basis of your assumption is that for someone to leave a party they must have changed their political beliefs - it is an equally valid argument that a party may change thus making continuing membership untenable.

Bozza · Jan 19, 2022

Coincidentally, it seems Christian Wakeford has strong feelings about this.

Or, maybe, HAD strong feelings about this.

It could be another thing he's changed his mind about recently...

[tweet]1483781323542212612[/tweet]

A1X · Jan 19, 2022

FWIW I think it should 100% lead to a by-election. Partly for the morals of the thing but it also prevents a stalking horse government of sinister intent piggybacking the votes of other parties then seizing power without accountability. Might only be a theory, but let’s make sure it can’t be put to the test eh?

MJsGhost · Jan 19, 2022

What if they just decide to be independent rather than defecting to the opposition?

What about when an MP loses the whip?

There’s no guarantee an MP will vote along party lines anyway, so does it make enough of a difference to force a by-election?

I can see why anyone that just votes for a party, regardless of who the candidate is might want a by election, but shouldn’t people be considering the candidates views as much or more than the party’s?

Maybe when some technology to make it all easier gets implemented there can be a quick vote simply on whether the constituents want a by-election or are happy to stick with the incumbent regardless of their new party or independent status…

KZNSeagull · Jan 19, 2022

Should be a by-election purely because his constituents have now lost their voice within the ruling party. They stood more chance of being listened to by the government yesterday than they do today and for the rest of this parliament.

jcdenton08 · Jan 19, 2022

I read this as defecating MPs which is also appropriate, as they are all full of shite

Pavilionaire · Jan 19, 2022

On a purely individual level, how can a person support the policies of Boris Johnson one day and then Keir Starmer the next?

Indeed, how can that person also bypass the Lib Dems, whose policies - whilst left of centre - are certainly more palatable to the Tories than Labours?

Whilst I am grateful to see the Tory Party suffer the pain of a defection it just further reinforce how ridiculous FPTP is.

Harry Wilson's tackle · Jan 19, 2022

A1X said:
FWIW I think it should 100% lead to a by-election. Partly for the morals of the thing but it also prevents a stalking horse government of sinister intent piggybacking the votes of other parties then seizing power without accountability. Might only be a theory, but let’s make sure it can’t be put to the test eh?

This was exactly how Livingsone and pals got in charge of the GLC. The labour leader who beat Horace Cutler was ousted within weeks of his win by an internal coup.

Later, when militant took hold they became obsessed with 'deselecting' sitting MPs (in fact my comments about Prentice were unfair - he was deselected while a sitting MP by Militant activists in his constituency, and stood as a tory in 79 in a different constituency and won).

Neither of these bits of shithousery are the same as an MP voluntarily crossing the floor.

Rather than clean up this mess, Thatcher's only intervention of substance was to abolish the GLC, leaving London with no effective local government till Mrs Tony brought in the London Mayor gig.

Whenever a sitting MP crosses the floor there are calls for a by-electio by the party losing an MP, and silence or laughter by the other side. And later when the boot is on the other foot the outcome is the same. I guess it would look peevish if Johnson brings in a law requiring a by-election as increasing numbers of his back benchers defect.

Labour suffered greatly when 28 sitting MPs defected to form the SDP when the Militant wankers got their fist up the labour party's back passage. The tories were certainly not screaming for by-election then.

JC Footy Genius · Jan 19, 2022

Mr Wakeford decided to cross the floor and join a party he said was full of cvnts ... coincidence?

https://order-order.com/2022/01/19/tell-us-what-you-think-of-labour-christian/

WATFORD zero · Jan 19, 2022

Well I hope that those who were voting for FPTP a few years back are not now moaning about voting for an individual rather than a party ?

Because I'm sure they knew what they were voting for :wink:

WATFORD zero · Jan 19, 2022

JC Footy Genius said:
Mr Wakeford decided to cross the floor and join a party he said was full of cvnts ... coincidence?

https://order-order.com/2022/01/19/tell-us-what-you-think-of-labour-christian/

Getting a draw after being 1 down against palace ? Silence
Brilliant performance against the European Champions ? Silence

Tory MP leaving crossing the floor ? I'll show that swear filter :rant:

*edit*

I'm just watching JRM on channel 4 news, taking the piss out of somebody, and it's not me :wink:

vegster · Jan 19, 2022

Bozza said:
Coincidentally, it seems Christian Wakeford has strong feelings about this.

Or, maybe, HAD strong feelings about this.

It could be another thing he's changed his mind about recently...

[tweet]1483781323542212612[/tweet]

Ah, So he's done a Truss then? aka A Bobby Ewing?

Seagull27 · Jan 19, 2022

Yep this is entirely a result of our electoral system. Some people vote for the individual, some people barely even notice the name and vote for the party. Morally it would be the right thing to do, but why on earth would you risk losing your seat when you don't have to?

keaton · Jan 19, 2022

But then what would stop an MP not resigning but voting against 'his/her' party the whole time?

The bigger bit of inconistency would be why Labour would allow someone with his voting record to join them from the Conservatives while they ban members who voice support or work with Green or Socialist parties

lawros left foot · Jan 19, 2022

I agree with having a by election for any floor crossers.

It should come in at the same time that there’s a law, if a party loses its leader, for any reason, we should have an election.

120,000 Tory member’s choosing our new Prime Minister, is not democracy.

Iggle Piggle · Jan 19, 2022

The day an MP defects to Labour from Blue-Rinse-On-Sea with a 30,000 majority is the day I'll believe its anything other than a cynical attempt to keep their seat at the next election. I won't hold my breath.

In this instance I'd love it to trigger a by election and Labour to not let Christian double standards stand as a Labour candidate. I won't hold my breath for that either.

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