So he's defected to Reform UK eh? But........
Resign his seat, and have a by-election? Oh no!
Said it many times, and I'll say it again - It is NOT democratic because............
In my opinion, if any MP of any colour, jumps ship, a by-election should automatically be called, but until the constitution is amended, it's never gonna happen.
I just hope he is destroyed at the ballot box, when Sunak finally allow this nation of ours to rid ourselves of this apology of an administration!
Spelly.
He’s a loathsome individual, zero redeeming qualities. All that remains for these right-wingers is pandering to knuckle-draggers about immigration and binning off net zero targets. Embarrassing.
So he's defected to Reform UK eh? But........
Resign his seat, and have a by-election? Oh no!
Said it many times, and I'll say it again - It is NOT democratic because............
In my opinion, if any MP of any colour, jumps ship, a by-election should automatically be called, but until the constitution is amended, it's never gonna happen.
I just hope he is destroyed at the ballot box, when Sunak finally allow this nation of ours to rid ourselves of this apology of an administration!
Spelly.
On a purely practical level. It costs over £1 Million to hold a bye election.
They have to call a general election this year. It could come as early as May which would mean a new MP could be in place for a matter of weeks. No point at this stage to waste the money, time, effort, noise for something which will make no difference to anyone what-so-ever. The voters of Ashfield can make their choice in the not to distant future. If he wins he wins if he loses he loses the people will have spoken. At least its a competitive seat.
In our voting system, voters cast their vote for the candidate, who is elected to represent the constituency in Parliament. Arguably, the Reform Party represents the far right wing of the Tory Party and Lee Anderson is likely to be re-elected at the next election. Apparently, he is in an excellent constituency MP.
Perhaps the system should allow the local electorate to call a by-election by way of a local petition, in a similar way to a recall petition when a sitting MP has to vacate their seat and a by-election called.
As has been said, with a Parliamentary election imminent it would be a waste of money to have a by-election, notwithstanding that the cost would be nowhere near £1m.
I totally accept there could be a general election as early as May, although I'll be surprised if it's before the Super League Grand Final, but............
I repeat that in a situation where an MP jumps ship / changes colour / defects, it should be written into the constitution that a by election is automatically called.
I wouldn't vote Tory to save my life, but more people in Ashfield put their X for the blue faction at the last election than for any other party, yet they are not now represented in that way, and have my sympathy in that scenario! It is NOT democratic!
He's done nowt wrong legally, but he has (in my opinion) done so morally.
Spelly.
I totally accept there could be a general election as early as May, although I'll be surprised if it's before the Super League Grand Final, but............
I repeat that in a situation where an MP jumps ship / changes colour / defects, it should be written into the constitution that a by election is automatically called.
I wouldn't vote Tory to save my life, but more people in Ashfield put their X for the blue faction at the last election than for any other party, yet they are not now represented in that way, and have my sympathy in that scenario! It is NOT democratic!
He's done nowt wrong legally, but he has (in my opinion) done so morally.
Spelly.
Lee Anderson didn't jump ship though. The Tories suspended the whip. This meant he couldn't be a Tory member of parliament. This is exactly the same as labour did with Jeremy Corbyn and as the Tories did with Andrew Bridgen. Both are independent MP's. The only choice Lee Anderson had was to be an independent MP or to join another party. He didn't have the choice to remain with the Tories.
I totally accept there could be a general election as early as May, although I'll be surprised if it's before the Super League Grand Final, but............
I repeat that in a situation where an MP jumps ship / changes colour / defects, it should be written into the constitution that a by election is automatically called.
I wouldn't vote Tory to save my life, but more people in Ashfield put their X for the blue faction at the last election than for any other party, yet they are not now represented in that way, and have my sympathy in that scenario! It is NOT democratic!
He's done nowt wrong legally, but he has (in my opinion) done so morally.
Spelly.
Lee Anderson didn't jump ship though. The Tories suspended the whip. This meant he couldn't be a Tory member of parliament. This is exactly the same as labour did with Jeremy Corbyn and as the Tories did with Andrew Bridgen. Both are independent MP's. The only choice Lee Anderson had was to be an independent MP or to join another party. He didn't have the choice to remain with the Tories.
Agreed, but I just repeat the last sentence of my post!
Spelly.
I'm with Spelly. The instant you decide you change your allegiance, there should be a by-election. I don't vote for Derek Twigg, whether I like him or not is immaterial, I vote for Labour. If DT decided to change his allegiance tomorrow to Lib Dem, I wouldn't be changing; ergo, my vote is compromised. I don't care if it costs a million quid to right that wrong, it should be spent.
I'm with Spelly. The instant you decide you change your allegiance, there should be a by-election. I don't vote for Derek Twigg, whether I like him or not is immaterial, I vote for Labour. If DT decided to change his allegiance tomorrow to Lib Dem, I wouldn't be changing; ergo, my vote is compromised. I don't care if it costs a million quid to right that wrong, it should be spent.
👍
I totally agree.
Money can't come before democracy, or else why bother to have elections anyway?
It would save a vast amount of taxpayers cash if we used the same system as the House of Lords, and leave it to the elite to choose what's best for us!
So we have another defection, and Daniel Poulter's boss is now KS, instead of RS, and.......
I totally accept that I'm repeating myself here, but...............
No mention of giving his constituents the opportunity to sack him or back him!
This again is NOT democracy!
Spelly.
So there's yet another, and..............
Natalie Elphicke is the latest to jump ship, with the constituents of Dover now having a Labour MP, instead of one from the Blue Brigade, but..............
Has she said "Back me, or sack me!" or summat similar? Nooooooooooooooooooo way!
Apparently when Jacob Rees-Mogg was informed, he said "She's even right of me!" So...............
Why did she jump so far left?
Whilst it's a(nother) kick in the wotsits for the (soon to be ex) PM, the fact there'll again be no by-election, I repeat that the constitution of this nation of ours is seriously flawed, to allow such total non-democracy!
Spelly.
Think there's a few Tories wondering how they're going to make a living after the election.
Labour shouldn't have entertained these last 2 defections. Right-wing nut-jobs with no place in the Labour party. Think Starmer is too blinded by getting one over on the Tories to realise these guys should be thrown towards the nearest dustbin. They were sh*t Tory MPs, why do Labour want them? Even if only for a few months?
Tell them to do one.
@spelly Because the political scale isn't left to right per se, as it is a circle (Or a horseshoe).
Once you go so far right you get close to the left & vice versa. Those at either end of the spectrum are far closer to each other than they are to a centrist.
The defections are a strange one, but it does bring about an interesting point.
Do people (& are they) vote/voting for the person or the party? Does it depend on their policies, so if you have a candidate focused on issues specifically for your area would you be more likely to vote for them than your 'standard' party as an example?
@spelly Because the political scale isn't left to right per se, as it is a circle (Or a horseshoe).
Once you go so far right you get close to the left & vice versa. Those at either end of the spectrum are far closer to each other than they are to a centrist.
The defections are a strange one, but it does bring about an interesting point.
Do people (& are they) vote/voting for the person or the party? Does it depend on their policies, so if you have a candidate focused on issues specifically for your area would you be more likely to vote for them than your 'standard' party as an example?
As a party member, I vote for the party, and not the personality, but 101% accept that there are others who are totally opposite, and that they have that democratic right, but................
I say yet again, that defecting / jumping ship, but not giving / allowing your constituents the opportunity to sack / back you, is not democratic, and exposes a serious flaw in our nation's constitution!
Spelly.