House of Commons · General Debate
02 September 2020 · 2 other contributors
Opened by Anthony Mangnall Con Romford
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Anthony Mangnall raised concerns about recall of mps (change of party affiliation) in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
Key points
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Proposes a Bill to enable the recall of Members of Parliament who voluntarily change their political party affiliation. The bill includes provisions for initiating a petition, requiring signatures from at least 10% of eligible electors in the constituency, and conducting a by-election if the threshold is met. Emphasises that this measure aims to restore trust and transparency in parliamentary democracy.
Argues for updating the Recall of MPs Act 2015 to include a condition where an MP who voluntarily leaves their party is subject to recall. Highlights that last year, 17 MPs crossed the floor without consulting constituents, affecting over 1 million voters. Supports the idea of Members being elected as representatives rather than delegates and emphasises the importance of maintaining trust between MPs and their electors.
In rising to oppose my hon. Friend's Bill, I embrace his noble intent and agree on the primacy of voters and importance of party. However, I argue that we must also consider what happens when things go terribly wrong and parties change beyond recognition, potentially compromising democratic freedoms. I refer to recent Labour history and quote Gavin Shuker on the safety valve provided by the current system for MPs to resign from their party. While advocating for a high threshold for full recall to avoid vexatious political activity, I emphasise the need to protect our constitution and individual MP's ability to act according to conscience.