Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikeuk
The majority of electors who voted in Castle Point did not vote Conservative at all but they have Spink as their MP and he is obliged to serve the interests of all of them, which I have no doubt he does very well.
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That is precisely what is wrong with our electoral system based on a simple majority as it presently is.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikeuk
In this country we vote for indivduals, not party lists. It is merely a system by which a sensible choice is made when there is more than one candidate for a particular seat.
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The selection of a candidate is done by the local party selection committee except where a candidate is parachuted in. That candidate is then supported by efforts and funds by the local party workers.
To think for a moment that Joe Public votes for the man and not the party is away with the faries stuff.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikeuk
Spink, of course, was and remains a Conservative, just as I do. It is Cameron and his pack of shysters who have walked away from us not we from them.
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Bob Spink may (and probably does) agree with many Conservative party policies, as would most people with more brain cells than teeth, but he is now NOT a Conservative MP with the Conservative Whip and all that entails, he is now a UKIP MP with the UKIP Whip.
Consequently the people of Castle Point who WANTED a Conservative party MP who took the Conservative Party Whip and voted accordingly have been in effect disenfranchised until the next time the seat comes up for election.
If the people of Castle Point feel that the Conservative Party no longer represent their wants then come the next election a Conservative candidate will fail to get elected.
The REAL danger of course is that the Conservative vote will be split and a party that most people in Castle Point would agree they do NOT want be returned.