Rob Roberts MP
Discussion
Article said:
The Conservative Party decided to suspend Mr Roberts for 12 weeks, twice the recommended duration.
Many senior MPs including Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg have previously urged Mr Roberts to stand down as a member of parliament following the panel's findings.
As Mr Roberts was suspended by an independent panel rather than a parliamentary committee, a legal loophole meant he was not subject to a recall petition - which could have led to a by-election being held in Delyn.
It would appear that due procedure has been followed - not defending the MP in question in the slightest, but as a recall petition was not possible, it falls to the individual MP to decide his own conscience. Herein lies the weakness of our parliamentary system - MPs cannot effectively be sacked by Parliament, other than for imprisonment longer than 12 months - but rely on the individual MP to do 'the right thing'. Readmitting him to the party after the 12 week suspension, but not reinstating the whip, seems to be a standard precedent. The SNP and Labour have done exactly this with various nefarious members in recent history.Many senior MPs including Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg have previously urged Mr Roberts to stand down as a member of parliament following the panel's findings.
As Mr Roberts was suspended by an independent panel rather than a parliamentary committee, a legal loophole meant he was not subject to a recall petition - which could have led to a by-election being held in Delyn.
The key problem as I see it, is that the British political system relies upon MPs being 'honourable members'
In other words people of integrity and personal honour. 'An Englishman's word is his bond' etc etc.
Of course when you have people who do not represent those values - the system has virtually no remedy. When the PM decides on whether to enforce decent behaviour, or prefers to payoff an aggrieved party, then it becomes open season. When a PM openly lies to Parliament, or government ministers ignore Parliament it is very easy to see how standards and decency seem terribly old fashioned and constraining.
A society gets the government it deserves is one of those old adages - when people are prepared to allow this to happen the decline is very obvious.
In other words people of integrity and personal honour. 'An Englishman's word is his bond' etc etc.
Of course when you have people who do not represent those values - the system has virtually no remedy. When the PM decides on whether to enforce decent behaviour, or prefers to payoff an aggrieved party, then it becomes open season. When a PM openly lies to Parliament, or government ministers ignore Parliament it is very easy to see how standards and decency seem terribly old fashioned and constraining.
A society gets the government it deserves is one of those old adages - when people are prepared to allow this to happen the decline is very obvious.
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