Why Are They Allowed T Do This?

[Kathyan]

Why are MPs who have been suspended from their party allowed to keep their seat as an independent?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21472000

[humbersloop]

it looks like this is how the tories deselect lg, I think other parties make broadly similar provisions.

http://www.socialaffairsunit.org.uk/blog/archives/001951.php

[LazyGun]

@ infundibulum Sure, there are logistical problems, but not insurmountable ones.

I genuinely do not understand peoples reluctance on this issue.

As it currently stands the state of our democratic rights when it comes to who represents us in Parliament can be summarised as this; Zilch for the term of the existing Parliament.

We can do nothing to express our dissatisfaction with a sitting MP if they take liberties, such as defrauding the public by padding out their expenses claims. We can do nothing if they make our location a byword for sexual piccadillos. We can do nothing if they take bribes to ask questions in parliament.

Only if they are convicted of a serious crime can we actually force a test of public opinion and selection of another representative. Some will resign, thus saving us the bother of polling the local electorate ( as in Huhne) but otherwise, that is it.

Given that there is an electoral roll, there should be no issue with someone who is sufficiently outraged by the actions of their local MP - and able to demonstrate that the anger is shared by a significant proportion of the local electorate to the extent of signing a petition to call a by-election.

The national parties might hate it - well that can only be good. MPs might be nervous about it - well that is good as well - no longer can they take the electorate for granted in a "safe seat" or whatever.

For me, the quality of democracy we have in this country is undermined by being unable to unseat an incumbent MP if a sufficiency of the local electorate are so minded.