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Does there need to be a new by-election rule?

(45 Posts)
Tuliptree Fri 14-Aug-26 10:45:22

I do not disagree at all with you Galaxy. Means and ends and all that and why at heart I’m a Kantian.

Galaxy Fri 14-Aug-26 10:43:22

I think Makerfield was deeply manipulative as well. It made me ashamed to have once supported them ( and I was no Starmer fan by the end)

Tuliptree Fri 14-Aug-26 10:42:21

You’re completely right on all counts

Luckygirl3 Fri 14-Aug-26 10:41:37

JaneJudge

I don't suppose 250k is much to Nigel Farage but to an ordinary person it could buy you a flat or house

He did not pay - we all did.

Maremia Fri 14-Aug-26 10:41:20

Perhaps I have this wrong, but I thought that Farage resigned to stop the investigation into his 'donations' issue.
Not to prove that the people who voted for him would do so again?
He, and his expert advisers, thought this would put an end to the process.
They were wrong, about this parliamentary procedure. (Does that not demonstrate how inept and unfit they actually are, for important office?)
and now the investigation will resume.

Tuliptree Fri 14-Aug-26 10:41:07

No having thought a bit more, none of it would work in reality would it?

Luckygirl3 Fri 14-Aug-26 10:40:45

Tuliptree

Galaxy

What about if they organise a by election for the sole reason of becoming primeminister.

Indeed - under Lucky’s suggestion that could well be ruled out. I wouldn’t argue with that at all.

I did not agree with that as a tactic, but it was a totally different scenario. The MP who resigned in Makerfield did not restand.

Tuliptree Fri 14-Aug-26 10:38:41

So so far 3 examples - if you change party, there has to be a by-election,, if you want to stand again in the by election for the same party you can’t and then the AB example - I think that’s trickier because you can’t really stop someone resigning even if you know what the reasons are . So what could happen? An MP resigns - a by election has to be allowed. Tricky

JaneJudge Fri 14-Aug-26 10:37:18

I don't suppose 250k is much to Nigel Farage but to an ordinary person it could buy you a flat or house

eazybee Fri 14-Aug-26 10:36:59

Makerfield is a perfect example, is it not?

M0nica Fri 14-Aug-26 10:33:08

If the resigning MP wins the bye election, then they should be responsible for reimbursing the country for the money wasted,

If they lose then they were right to call the bye-election

Oreo Fri 14-Aug-26 10:30:29

Galaxy

What about if they organise a by election for the sole reason of becoming primeminister.

Yes, there’s that isn’t there😉

Tuliptree Fri 14-Aug-26 10:30:04

Galaxy

What about if they organise a by election for the sole reason of becoming primeminister.

Indeed - under Lucky’s suggestion that could well be ruled out. I wouldn’t argue with that at all.

Galaxy Fri 14-Aug-26 10:26:50

What about if they organise a by election for the sole reason of becoming primeminister.

Tuliptree Fri 14-Aug-26 10:13:05

Agree with all of that Lucky. This NF case is beyond the pale. He should have resigned and then stood at the next GE.

Luckygirl3 Fri 14-Aug-26 10:09:38

But there need to be rules to cover this contingency I think. Public money poured down the drain.

I do not think it has confirmed the support NF has as there was no credible opposition for him to fight.

Tuliptree Fri 14-Aug-26 10:07:54

What about if they change party? Not that a sitting MP defecting to Reform would ever want to face their electorate . But you know if there were an MP with morals, ethics, a belief in democracy, respect for Parliament etc etc .

Oreo Fri 14-Aug-26 10:06:02

I think it would be rarely done tbh

mum2three Fri 14-Aug-26 10:01:39

It does seem an odd thing to do, but Farage wanted to give people the chance to get rid of him if they so chose. Instead it has confirmed the support he has.

Luckygirl3 Fri 14-Aug-26 09:59:11

It seems to me that resigning one's seat as an MP to force a by-election, then costing the tax payer £250,000 by restanding is a loophole that needs plugging for any standing MP of whatever party.

There are no rules that stop someone repeating this fiasco.

No MP of whatever party should be allowed to do this - it is a waste of public funds.