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Democracy in the UK
This year alone, 40 MPs have changed political party.
Some of those have had no choice in that, but various have chosen to swap sides. In addition, some have cited "democracy" as their reason to change, while others have previously claimed that people voted for them (rather than their Party), and yet have still announced that they will stand in a different constituency next time.
Constituents voted for 1 thing, and are being short-changed. I would like to see compulsory by-elections for anyone who CHOOSES to change Party. Failing that, a rule that says anyone who refuses a by-election can only stand in that constituency at the next election would (IMO) be a major step forward.
That and anyone blaming Brexit for their failings in business or running the country should be on a big wall of shame
Some of those have had no choice in that, but various have chosen to swap sides. In addition, some have cited "democracy" as their reason to change, while others have previously claimed that people voted for them (rather than their Party), and yet have still announced that they will stand in a different constituency next time.
Constituents voted for 1 thing, and are being short-changed. I would like to see compulsory by-elections for anyone who CHOOSES to change Party. Failing that, a rule that says anyone who refuses a by-election can only stand in that constituency at the next election would (IMO) be a major step forward.
That and anyone blaming Brexit for their failings in business or running the country should be on a big wall of shame
Comments
The majority have been sacked or resigned fairly recently, and we may well end up with a general election very soon after by-elections could have been arranged.
Although I take your point that joining another party should mean a by-election.
An argument against this is that Boris could have sacked a load of remainers and ensured that they were replaced by a load of leavers, and completely changed the make up of Parliament.
It will be interesting to see how many will return to their original party when their respective leaders depart.
There has already been talk of the so called Tory rebels being allowed back into the fold.
I can sympathise will the Tory rebels, and those that have resigned, as the Tories seem he ll bent on taking a path they have no mandate for.
The Labour Party just don't seem to have any direction, and seem incapable of solving their internal problems.
I don't think we should criticise any politicians for having a conscience.
You brought up Kate Hoey earlier. She is someone I really dislike. Although you can rightly condemn her for not representing her constituents, she might argue that she is following the so called will of the people.
There is a dilemma facing all of our politicians.
They are supposed to obey their party whip. How could any Government function if all their MPs voted as they saw fit. No legislation would be passed. So party loyalty is very important.
They also have an obligation to represent their constituents, the people that elected them.
They should also have a conscience that you would hope would guide them on difficult issues.
Add a referendum to this and you get a will of the people aspect that we expect MPs to honour.
To complicate this further you can add in the fact that the UK is made up of a union of 4 countries. Two of which were in favour of Brexit and two weren't.
So your country becomes another consideration, particularly if you represent a nationalist party.
So in the case of someone like Kate Hoey, who I dislike intensely, her constituents voted remain, her party are not sure what they want to do but currently seem to leaning towards remaining, the UK voted to leave.
So despite the fact that her constituents have every right to be up in arms, she could argue about the will of the people.
.
I don't think there will be one MP that can support everyone that they are supposed to be supporting.
It is just a mess,
Tommy Robinson among those celebrating prime minister’s comments to ‘traitor MPs’ amid widespread condemnation
Far-right extremists are celebrating Boris Johnson’s “brilliant” comments in parliament amid mounting condemnation over his rhetoric.
Britain First, Tommy Robinson and Katie Hopkins are throwing their weight behind the prime minister after he dismissed an emotional plea from a friend of the murdered MP Jo Cox as “humbug”.
Their supporters have previously called for riots at demonstrations supporting Mr Johnson, amid warning that his language was “calling to” nationalists.
Last week, police named far-right extremism as the fastest-growing terror threat to the UK and said groups “anywhere along the spectrum” could inspire attacks, as MPs receive “unprecedented” abuse.
Robinson’s official channel on the encrypted messaging app Telegram shared a post mocking warnings that MPs were receiving death threats.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-parliament-debate-jo-cox-death-brexit-tommy-robinson-a9121201.html
In the end, David Brent liberates himself from the idolisation of his idiot hero. There is an election coming, and the voters might just do the same
At some point, inevitably, there will be an election, and the public will have to make their minds up. Eventually, Brent liberates himself from his false idolisation of his idiot hero. The last we ever see of Finchy is the back of him, on his way into the Christmas party, and three telling words:
“Chris, f*** off.”
It may just be that the voters come to a similar conclusion.
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/dominic-cummings-brexit-violence-finchy-boris-johnson-article-50-lewis-goodall-sky-news-a9123656.html
A man who has never joined ANY political party.
Who has stated publicly that the Conservatives couldn't care about the NHS or the ordinary working man.
Who has insulted various Conservative politicians (David Davies-"thick as mince"). Who sees nothing wrong in summarily dismissing a Senior Cabinet Member's staff member (without even consulting him). The crime? Emailing a Tory MP that Cummings doesn't like.
Who pronounces sagely that he understands why people don't like politicians.
While running the country without ever being voted for by ANYBODY.
Downing Street aide sacked by Dominic Cummings 'offered £40,000 payout'
A sacked Downing Street adviser has been offered a payout of around £40,000, it is claimed.
Sonia Khan was marched out of Number 10 by armed police after being fired by Boris Johnson’s de facto chief of staff Dominic Cummings.
Ms Khan, 27, is believed to be in line to get the lump sum following her on-the-spot dismissal, according to The Daily Telegraph.
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/downing-street-aide-sacked-dominic-065808583.html
In the case of the 21 that were sacked and the very recent resignations, it would seem to be pretty pointless to have had around 25 by-elections followed by a general election very soon after.
I think it takes 6 weeks to organise a by-election, and a November general election is very likely.
The other reason is that if it became compulsory to have by-elections it would allow dodgy PMs to reshape Parliament.
I regard the Tory rebels as moderates.
They voted for the deal, and therefore honouring the so called will of the people.
They are not against Brexit, they are against leaving with no deal, in the interest of what is best for the country.
However compulsory by-elections may allow the likes of our current PM to have sacked them, and instructed their local associations to only select ERG type fanatics as their candidates, to replace them.
This action may have enabled him to get a no deal Brexit voted through, without a mandate, and to the detriment of the country.
As he is very slippery, I am sure that this will have crossed his mind, and may have appealed to him, if there had been a little more time.
I also think there is a difference in those that have been sacked for standing up for their views, and those that have a change of heart, resign, and join another party.
That is why I suggested that the rules should only apply to people who choose to change party.
On the minus side, let's look at the LibDems.
The majority of the House do not want a "no deal" Brexit.
The best way to scupper this is for the Opposition parties to unite to form a purely temporary National Unity Government. This would extend Article 50, and then call for a General Election.
One party, the LibDems, stands purely on its "Bollards for Brexit" campaign. So could someone tell me why it is they who are preventing No Deal being stopped?
Jo Swinson is the 1 person who is preventing this. By refusing to allow the Leader of the Opposition to temporarily take charge. The reason? "He doesn't have the numbers". Says the woman with 18 MPs (only 12 of which were voted in as LibDems). Who got 2.3 million votes at the last election. As opposed to the 12.9 million Labour voters/13.6 million Conservative voters. Labour have 247 MPs which, when added to natural supporters of preventing No Deal should easily make a majority.
The SNP recognise the need for allowing Corbyn to temporarily be PM for this purpose. Even though Labour are a far bigger threat to SNP seats than to LibDem ones.
It is clear that the LibDems will only oppose Brexit provided it suits LibDems. The ONLY reason No Deal Brexit is still a real possibility is because the LibDems are unwilling to provide the "numbers" that make the difference.
We should be having a temporary Government headed by Corbyn, flanked by Swinson and Rudd/Clarke. Just 1 Party are insufficiently Liberal or Democratic to do this.
This surprises me because they are all supposed to be supporting a second referendum.
So a temporary Government which lasted for 6 months, followed by a referendum, then a general election, would seem to make sense.
The alternatives which are a vote of no confidence, or an article 50 extension, followed by a general election, may return us to square one.
A general election resulting in another Hung Parliament, will solve nothing.
Will we see the end of Brexit in my lifetime?
Will repercussions of leaving, kick off a campaign to get back in?
Will a referendum resulting in remaining start off another leave campaign?
Assuming we do leave, the trade negotiations will go on for years.
If the home secretary’s announcement to grant police the freedom to Taser whoever they liked had come slightly earlier, an MP called Geoffrey Clifton-Brown could have been in serious trouble
The lights drop, the pre-roll music plays, the home secretary strides on to the conference stage to the sound of thrilled applause.
Lights up again. She clears her throat and these are Priti Patel’s opening words:
“Today, here in Manchester, the Conservative Party takes its rightful place as the party of law and order in Britain once again.”
Twenty minutes previously, the party of law and order in Britain had had to send home one of its MPs, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown. They actually expelled him from the party conference, after police had to be called to a function room to step into a row he was having with security personnel.
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/conservative-party-conference-geoffrey-clifton-brown-police-tory-a9128501.html
I am embarrassed by the fact that they see the end of Freedom of Movement, as something to celebrate.
This means that they approve of the fact that their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, will lose the right to travel, live, and work freely in Europe.
How on earth could this be a cause for celebration.
Whilst all this is going on Liz Truss is busily negotiating trade deals elsewhere in the world, that will include freedom of movement.
All the nasty things we put up with over the years....... continue.