Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

MPs leaving their party- how come they keep their seats ?

81 replies

Aridane · 20/02/2019 07:41

When an MP resigns from their party - whether to join another political party or become an independent- how come they keep their seat?

If I vote, I vote not just for the individual but also for the political party they represent.

OP posts:
notaflyingmonkey · 20/02/2019 07:49

Because they have no shame.

Because they knew they were going to be deselected soon anyway, so they jumped rather than wait to be pushed.

They will all lose their seats at the next election, so this is them clinging on by their fingernails to their last moments in the job.

#funnytinge

EggysMom · 20/02/2019 07:52

If you say that you voted for the party, would you be happy with that party swapping your MP for a different person mid-term? After all, they represent the same party .... Or would you argue that you voted for the person?

It's a tricky no-win situation. All you can do is wait for the next chance to vote, and then make your vote count.

DelurkingAJ · 20/02/2019 07:54

The honourable thing would be to resign and stand as an independent in the by-election. Has been done previously and the sitting MP has sometimes won (I certainly vote for the person not the party). I can see though that they may feel they should do this after the Brexit votes as otherwise there won’t have been time for a by-election. So I’ll reserve judgement.

LostInShoebiz · 20/02/2019 07:55

Because you elect a person who happens to align themselves with a party. In theory a Tory could change to Labour mid term and stay in seat.

Tubeworker · 20/02/2019 07:58

Because you do not, in fact, vote for the party or the leader. In a Westminster system you vote for your local MP. He then is either part of a party or an independent, and he votes for the leader of their party.

The transferral to an American style of presidential elections is a huge part of what is wrong with modern British politics.

What they have done is, in fact, what you voted them in to do. They are all remainers and were part of a party that was pro-Brexit, lead by someone who is a life-long eurosceptic. They believe that what they’re doing is in their electorates best interest.

As for them having no shame and jumping before they were pushed I don’t know but it comes across as ideological ferver, given chuka nearly became Labour leader- but then, maybe that’s a sign of the truth- Corbyn carrying out a Stalinist style purge of the party.

As for whether or not they’ll lose their seats at the next election- well it depends how well they perform, and if their electorates are strongly pro-Brexit or not I should think.

underneaththeash · 20/02/2019 07:58

Surely it's just a way though of trying to bring the end to a anti-semetic, bigoted, corrupt leader? They'll rejoin when JC is removed and someone capable of running the country competently is chosen.

SisterOfDonFrancisco · 20/02/2019 08:00

You vote for the party and the manifesto.

BerensteinBear · 20/02/2019 08:01

notaflyingmonkey

Agree wholeheartedly.

Original poster
Aridane · 20/02/2019 08:01

If you say that you voted for the party, would you be happy with that party swapping your MP for a different person mid-term? After all, they represent the same party ...

I would want a bye election

OP posts:
SisterOfDonFrancisco · 20/02/2019 08:02

Don't know why they can keep their seats though.

Original poster
Aridane · 20/02/2019 08:02

Because you do not, in fact, vote for the party or the leader. In a Westminster system you vote for your local MP.

I’m voting for both

OP posts:
Bagpuss5 · 20/02/2019 08:04

I think there would be a by election in that case @Aridane

HotpotLawyer · 20/02/2019 08:05

“They will all lose their seats at the next election, so this is them clinging on by their fingernails to their last moments in the job.”

This was highly unlikely in the case of Chuka. In a labour stronghold and an area of one of the highest remain votes in the entire country.

Now, his position might be compromised by voters who put Labour first on principle.

CherryPavlova · 20/02/2019 08:05

Your cross goes against a named individual. It is the individual who is elected and returned. You do not vote for a leader or a political party.

SisterOfDonFrancisco · 20/02/2019 08:10

This is so strange, of course you vote for the party, the person is running under the party manifesto, how could a voter just ignore that? I'm not saying the person makes no difference but at best you consider both things.

Janecon · 20/02/2019 08:11

Technically they don't have to resign but, in my opinion, they have a moral obligation to do so and allow voters to make the choice. But of course they won't.

Tubeworker · 20/02/2019 08:30

I’m voting for both

You’re not. You are voting for an individual to represent your electorate in parliament.

Parties/leaders are all after the fact. Thus my point about American style elections being what is horribly wrong with modern British politics. It’s an altogether different political system. Theirs is an election for party and leader, as well as local member of Congress.

dietcokemegafan · 20/02/2019 08:32

You vote for the individual not the party. How could you be a voter and not know that?!

Tubeworker · 20/02/2019 08:34

Sorry this is to point out that of course people DO vote for their party and the leader etc, because that’s how it’s often sold to us now. But be clear- in our system of politics you vote for the individual member of parliament. Unless you live in their electorates you can’t vote for Jeremy Corbyn or Theresa May, or Nigel farage or anyone else for that matter. And you also vote for your MP to serve your electorates best interest to the best of their ability. If they no longer believe the Labour Party is their electorates best interest, then they’re doing what they were elected to do (for whatever reason- anti-semitism/brexit etc).

meditrina · 20/02/2019 08:39

You may feel like you're voting for both.

But you are electing the individual to represent your constituency for the whole term if the next parliament. And that is why, if they wish, they can stay until the nest general election.

Personally I think it is plain wrong to make such a material change without putting it back to your constituency. It is quite rare for MPs to do that though.

Janecon · 20/02/2019 08:41

I agree that we vote for an individual, but generally speaking people vote for them because they believe they will represent their views. So if a Labour MP decides to switch to the Tories (or vice versa) mid term then it's fair to assume that they may no longer represent the views of the majority of their electorate. That's why I think there should be a by election. I know it's not the same in this case, but I would like to see greater accountability and for MPs to recognise that they have made a significant switch and leave it to their voters to choose. In this case big enough that they held a press conference. But they won't.

TrixieFranklin · 20/02/2019 08:47

Even if you vote purely for the party and not for the person, you aren't guaranteed that Mp will always support everything put forward by the party in a vote.

MillytantForceit · 20/02/2019 08:48

Because they are directly elected as representatives to exercise their judgement, for good or ill, on behalf of all their constituents regardless of who they voted for or even if they didn't vote.

Labour in the 70s was irate when Reg Prentice went over to the Tories, but by the 90s they were much more relaxed when Alan Howarth and Quentin Davies came over to them from the Conservatives.

Parties are recorded on ballots. At first this was in very small writing under much bigger writing giving the candidate's home address and name of their agent. That all changed after Winchester 1997 when the 'Literal Democrat' took enough votes from the LibDem to have him lose his seat.

Party logos have appeared on ballots ever since. Previously, they were thought necessary only in countries like India with widespread illiteracy.

ShartGoblin · 20/02/2019 08:50

In theory doesn't this mean that it's possible for one party to "infiltrate" a party then all switch in a massive group changing the party majority in parliament? All without any kind of vote. To me this seems open to massive corruption.

ourkidmolly · 20/02/2019 08:56

Apart from one, they all have huge majorities which they may hang onto. They've decided that the rabidly anti-Semitic Momentum which has been allowed to hold sway over the Labour party selections has completely taken over the party. It barely resembles an opposition anymore hence the Brexit mess we're in. Good on them I say. Hopefully this is a wake up call for Labour.