No party animal, I’ll serve you not myself

I note the announcement in the Maidenhead Advertiser on March 8, 2024, of our MP Theresa May’s intention not to stand for re-election to Parliament, when the next General Election comes.

She subsequently received much praise, for her conduct since returning to the backbenches.

You quote her as saying, ‘..I have enjoyed being a back-bencher again and having more time to work for my constituents...’.

The thoughts of Maidenhead’s constituents may now turn to who will succeed Mrs May.

As has been pointed out, former Conservative Prime Minister and former Conservative Home Secretary Mrs May has been our MP since 1997.

Before her, when Windsor and Maidenhead was still a single constituency, it had for many years Conservative MP, Dr Alan Glyn.

During all those years of Conservative MPs, at each election, what percentages of those voting voted for parties other than the Conservatives; and what percentage did not even bother to vote at all?

Of those who did not vote at all, how many felt that there was no point, as this was – and would be – a ‘safe’ Conservative seat?

Of those who voted Conservative, how many did so, not because of support for the current Conservative candidate or manifesto, but rather to ensure that Party X or Party Y did not get the seat?

Nationally, in how many ‘safe’ seats does this happen, election after election?

Why such obsession with electing people of Tribe A or Tribe B or Tribe C?

Why should the constituents of any particular area be better served by someone with allegiance to a certain Party – and with ambitions to ‘succeed’ within that party and within the Commons – than by an Independent, with ambitions to conduct themselves in accordance with the Nolan Principles of Standards in Public Life while taking an interest in the lives of their constituents?

A constituency won by a party gaining 60 per cent of the votes, on a turn-out of 60 per cent ends up with an MP voted for by 36 per cent of the electorate.

Very likely, those opposed to that party divided their votes among several other par ties.

If anyone wants to vote for someone who is not a ‘party animal’, in the next General Election, here is my manifesto:

1) if elected, I will aim to take an active interest in the people and organisations of Maidenhead constituency, as an Independent MP;

2) If elected, I will aim to conduct myself in keeping with the Principles of Public Life (1995 - Committee on Standards in Public Life);

3) If elected, I will donate 10 per cent of my annual Parliamentary income (after tax) to Thames Hospice;

4) If elected, I will not join a political party without first resigning my seat and bringing about a by-election;

5) If elected, I will not vote for or against any particular Bill simply because a Party Whip says I must.