Do We Vote For Our Mps Or For The Party They Represent

[lankeela]

- and if you voted for Christian Wakeford as a Conservative would you be miffed that you now had a Labour MP?

[naomi24]

I vote for the party. How dare an elected MP decide he no longer represents those who voted for him?!

Incidentally, having used the word ‘miffed’ elsewhere recently it seems to have hit the mark. My reputation as a trendsetter, I’m pleased to say, appears to remain unsullied. Happy days. :o)

[THECORBYLOON]

LANKEELA, if you expect your MP to ask about your issues or opinions, how often would you want to be asked?

[Gromit]

naomi2
Bury South voted for a strong leader as apposed to Corbyn and then got this sh*tshow. It isn’t the MP who is not fulfilling the election promise, it is the struggling leader.

[tomus42]

You are not saying anything to address the basic point Gromit, just restating your hatred of the current govt.

If someone campaigns on a certain party's manifesto and then switches to a completely different one after winning, that is clearly wrong. It's tantamount to fraud. All would be OK if there was an automatic by election in such cases.

[naomi24]

Gromit, you must be dizzy after that one!

[DTCwordfan]

It's plain and simple, he should resign his seat and go to a by-election - as a prospective Labour MP or whatever colours he wants to take up. What he has done is incredibly selfish and would certainly have me fuming as I voted for the Party and did so in the last election when we got a new candidate who nobody knew nothing about her.

He's not the first to do it though - many have inc Churchill in 1904

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_elected_British_politicians_who_have_changed_party_affiliation

[ichkeria]

Wasn’t the splendidly named Mark Reckless the last to resign his seat?
Which he retained in a byelection and then lost at the General Election.
MPs of course are supposed to represent all their constituents regardless of what party they represent and I’d imagine of course that Mr Wakeford will do so even if he doesn’t resign

[ichkeria]

I’m surprised no one has dredged this up :-)

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/bury-mp-christian-wakeford-accused-22138251.amp

[dannyk13]

General Election - Party. Local Election - MP.

[naomi24]

//I’m surprised no one has dredged this up :-) //

Someone has. You.

[youngmafbog]

As I stated mon another thread my opinion is that any MP elected under one party banner should go through another election if they move to another. The only exception maybe if they moved to an independent.

In this case it seems some in the ranks of the labour party are not particularly happy with it either. I can understand why, could you trust them?

[Ellipsis]

Tell me the last time a by-election took place when an MP crossed the floor, and then why it should happen now in this particular case ... what's different about it?

[naomi24]

It should happen in every case - and I've no doubt that's said every time someone does cross the floor.

[Kardashev]

I agree with those that said changing sides should trigger a by election.

[pat2604]

I voted for Norman Lamb back in the day when the Lib Dems were my choice of party and also because he was a very good MP and regularly met with his constituents. He held regular clinics and several times a year would tour round the villages with an invite to come and discuss any problems. He helped us out a lot and communicated with me about any developments. If he had defected to another party i would have never have voted for him again. We trust our MPs to support their party. If they change parties, then they should do the honourable thing and resign.

[pat2604]

And of course it should trigger a bi-election!

[ichkeria]

This is worth a read:

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/crossing-the-floor/

[pat2604]

By-election!

[Stickybottle]

naomi24
I vote for the party. How dare an elected MP decide he no longer represents those who voted for him?!
———
Not unlike the PM as was pointed out yesterday by David Davis

[ToraToraTora]

Personally I vote for the Tory, even if he's a complete rissole, the show is more important than the individual cast. I would consider tactical voting but my seat is safe so that wouldn't come up.