Voters De-Fylde In Lancs

[Gromit]

Menzies has lost the whip.

He has quit the Tories.

He has previously announced he is not contesting the next election.

But he continues to be the area's MP.

He has not quit, there is no By Election.

What a complete ***.

Anyone disagree ?

[youngmafbog]

In this particular case it wont be long until an election has to happen. 

So who wants to pay the cost of a by-election (They are not cheap you know)?

[davebro3]

Gromit's just off on one as usual - trying to create a big fuss about nothing. 😝

[youngmafbog]

Actually I think he has a point.

[davebro3]

Maybe he would have if we were near the start of a 5 year parliament but we aren't & to hold a by-election now would be pretty pointless.

[gulliver1]

Davebro 10.56 To hold a by election now before the GE is a very good idea,,The Tories woold lose it and that would be another nail in the Cons Coffin. Lets go for it I say🤣

[naomi24]

I've always thought that when an MP no longer represents the party the electorate voted for there should be a by-election - but it doesn't happen.  I can't see why this is any different.

[davebro3]

So were should the cut off point be? 3 months to the GE, 2 months, 1 month?

[ichkeria]

Naomi fwiw Corbyn and Abbott remain numbers of the Labour Party 

[ichkeria]

"Members"

[jackthehat]

The 3 current Fylde Coast MPs are:

Blackpool North and Cleveleys - Paul Maynard (Con) under investigation for alleged financial irregularities;

Blackpool South - Scott Benton (Con) - 'Nuff said;

Fylde - Mark Menzies (Con) - All the recent hoo-hah.

It's not good reading and must have Rishi Sunak holding his head in despair.

[Gromit]

There is a by election on May 2nd in Blackpool South. 
We don't know when the General Election is, it is possible to hold out until 28th January 2024.

[ToraToraTora]

FYI gromit

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Media-and-TV/Question1867819.html

 

[Gromit]

Scott Benton's in Blackpool South resigned as an MP which prompted a by-election. 

Presumably Mark Menzies is less honourable and will continue to cash his pay cheque for several more months.

[ichkeria]

A lot of people reckon June or July: July is when these planes may take off: any later risks looking like "hanging on" and if Rwanda looks like it's not working...

[Gromit]

TTT

That's brilliant. I am sure you remember this one...

&si=CbLmP-v5njSSgiMm

[bednobs]

i didnt read all the answers, but i have  a general q.  What's the issue with haivng the whip removed?  surely it's freeing not being told how to vote?

[ToraToraTora]

no I don't remember that one! Hilarious!

[ToraToraTora]

15:09, yes but the MP is in effect now an indpendent. Many might say, with some validity, that the constituency voted for the party rather than the person so they are no longer represented by the party they voted for. This is just one case of many so I take the point but when a labour MP loses the whip they don't resign either.

[Gromit]

bednobs

The voters elected a Conservative. If they had wanted their MP to have a free vote, they would have elected an independent.

[ichkeria]

Not sure it makes much difference in the grand scheme, but being expelled from the parliamentary party is not the same as being expelled from the party or resigning from it. However Menzies hasn't joined another party so the real issue is more whether his constituents would still want him on moral grounds.