Political switchers should face voters
I HAvE always been confused when an individual, voted for by their constituents to represent them in parliament for a particular party, changes to the other side without any further reference to the people who elected them.
I vote for a particular party and not for the individual and they should be made to realise that they gain ‘their seat’ very much on our behalf.
Surely in Dr Dan Poulter’s (Suffolk Central) case, and with a majority of 23,391 Conservative voters, he should stand down immediately as he no longer represents the wishes of his constituents?
It is time Parliament changed this ‘free to move away elsewhere’ policy that allows MPs to switch their allegiance without any reference to those who allowed them to take up a Westminster seat on their behalf.
If you change sides you should have to resign immediately or put your new position to the test with voters.
The same thing happened in Scotland recently. Ash Regan (Edinburgh Eastern) was voted in for the SNP by that party’s supporters before she then decided to quit and join the Alba Party instead.
As usual, there was no question of asking her constituents: ‘Is it OK if I move from your party of choice?’ Surely the democratic way to deal with a change of heart is to get your constituents to support such a switch at the ballot box or step down!
Gordon McCREADY, eaglesham, renfrewshire.
CONSERVATIVE MP Dan Poulter jumps ship and defects to the Labour
Party. Surely this should automatically trigger a by-election.
Many people (including me) vote for a party, not an individual. In theory, a candidate could be elected, change party a week later and hold their position in that party for nearly five years. How can this be right?
DAVID MARCHANT,
Woodley, Berks.