Thread

So Tory MP is trending with the world’s media seeking to determine which Tory MP it is.

But is it relevant that the accused is a Tory? I think not.
And here is why

2. There’s a focus on why the whip has not been removed & whether the Tory party, if they were aware of these serious allegations acted.

3. And there lies the problem.

Just what exactly does removing a whip achieve for victims and for constituents?

4. Drop the ‘Tory’ bit no party can, hand on heart say serious allegations have not been made against one of their own

And that explains the near silence of all party players It’s not innocent till proved guilty They all have skeletons in cupboards or don’t know what is upcoming

5. What good does suspending a whip do other than act to protect a party? Distance a party from actions that are socially unacceptable.? But what of the long term?

Voters face a huge dilemma that removing the whip doesn’t solve.

6. We, as constituents, are still represented in parliament by the same MP who sits as an independent’.

Even if court process results, they sit there.

Unless a court gives a minimum conviction of 12 months & 1 day they sit there. And there is no redress unless that is ......

7. .... the Parliamentary standards Commissioner acts.
Look at the powers she has. IMO they are minimal.

In fact less than the Labour Party’s own disciplinary sanctions for members.
Who get no protection of innocent till proved guilty, no anonymity, no protection from leaks.

8. In my own constituency the MP accepted a caution - an admission of guilt to a charge of assault - known to be against his partner in their home. That is domestic abuse. Where is the outcry by parliamentarians?

9. Questions being asked by voters here include how can this be right? How can the issue of domestic abuse - claimed by all political parties to be a serious matter that requires serious commitment & action, be degraded to a few whispers, the removal of the whip for a year?

10. Something stinks in the house regarding discipline and sanctions against parliamentarians.

And we as voters have no powers.

Will the Standards Commissioner actually act and indeed does she have any powers to do so?

11. Seems to me the standards committee has good powers to investigate the use of a piece of paper with a portcullis on it or the use of a few stamps from the wrong budget than it does the serious matter of abuse against women.

12. And I am not holding my breath about this case of this ‘Tory MP’ either.

13. As far a I & the public are concerned the system is letting us down.

Badly.

14. An MP is a lawmaker. If a sitting lawmaker breaks the law whilst making laws then that is serious.

Every review of parliamentary standards has let us down and will continue to let us down whilst party politics and factionalism drive the complaints systems & media outrage.