Let voters decide if defecting MPs can stay in Parliament

THERE’S no requirement for an MP to hold a by- election if they decide to defect to another political party, but the time has come to change

- Duncan Barkes Guest columnist

THIS. Westminster loves a political defection — the speculation, intrigue and the ultimate deed being done.

The last few months have seen notable defections of sitting Tories deciding to join Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

When such moves take place, the issue of whether those MPs should hold a by-election to receive a fresh mandate from their constituents once again crops up. The motivation behind quitting one political party for another is varied.

For some, self-preservation is a clear cause, in others it is a genuine belief that the party they are joining is a better fit for them. Quitting a political party that you have been a member of, and been elected to serve for, is no quick decision.

Take the defections of East Wiltshire MP Danny Kruger and Romford MP Andrew Rosindell to Reform. It’s clear from both their consistent records in Parliament that they honestly believe Reform is a better place for them than a Conservative Party that still seems divided on issues such as leaving the European Convention on Human Rights.

While Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has rightly made clear her party’s intention to quit the ECHR if it wins the next general election, there are Conservative MPs who clearly remain aghast at the idea.