In truth, every single major piece of legislation ought to be this somberly undertaken, this well attended, this carefully considered, and this passionately, but cordially, argued.
If our elected chamber can be what we witnessed today, why can't it all the time?
If our elected chamber can be what we witnessed today, why can't it all the time?
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Yet they did the Brexit debate in a day
That makes for a better debate
Antiquated "pomp" that gets in the way of efficient reasoned democracy.
Voting should be digital
Commons and lords should be updated and moved out of westminster
So this embarrassing spectacle is not repeated.
But we are where we are.
None of them will answer my questions.
Hope the Lords will throw it out.
Parties policies should be rallied around because the MPs believe in them, not because they are whipped?
When I vote for an MP that is a member of a party, I want to know that they are broadly speaking going to go along with the party line – I don't want to have to check up on their individual voting record, even harder if they are a new MP. (1/2)
But at the same time, I want my MP to be able to vote with their conscience on serious matters that demand it.
How do you square that circle? I don't know the answer. (2/2)
As Ian Dunt mentioned, this was a free vote so there was no guaranteed government majority and as a result MPs had to make *convincing* and *persuasive* speeches/ arguments.
It's called Party Politics and it means 'democracy' works for the politically powerful, not for the people.
The politically powerful are OK with PR, too.
The system they hate is the STV. That retains one representative per constituency (PR abandons it) and gives independents a fair chance.
This is how parliament ought to be
How it is most of the time, is a shame
Can we use this as a case study to lift up the parliamentary process
b. our shitty constitution
c. the system of Executive dictatorship
Those who don’t show the consideration and the respect that is needed in the moment.
And of course Jenrick dives straight into the exception camp.
So, when history shows how others rose to the occasion, it will show how he sank beneath it.
For shame
This is supposedly a conscience vote. A free vote. Other votes not so much.
Being livid that people are being shouted at for having lanyards and receiving bribes to go to Rwanda, performatively, that all annoys me and I should be incensed about it.
I do my job quietly, I'm happy they're doing the same.
Add antiquated physical voting & inflexible sitting hours & it all mitigates against what we saw today
It isn't just contentious legislation though. Party whips are essential to ensure that a govt's programme can be carried out - a jigsaw of legislation, expenditure & taxation - which could fall apart if ministers couldn't rely on votes.
Did it justice