Hello everyone,

As we approach 3,000 signatures (amazing!) I was interviewed by ITV News today. It won't be going out tonight, but sometime later this week, depending on other related content and I expect I'll only be a small part of it. I'll keep you posted. No doubt we will have broken through the 3,000 mark by the time it is broadcast.

Whilst preparing for the interview, it occurred to me that my disappointment with my own MP perhaps clouded my perspective somewhat. As we know, Mr. Kruger is unlikely to pay any attention to this petition, much like any opinion from his constituents with which he disagrees. What I overlooked previously is that this is a national issue.

As you are probably aware, a by-election can only be triggered through a recall petition signed by 10% of the electorate within six weeks, and that a recall petition can only take place if an MP is:

• convicted of an offence in the UK and receives a custodial sentence (including a suspended sentence) or is ordered to be detained, other than solely under mental health legislation
• suspended from the House of Commons for 10 sitting days or 14 calendar days
• convicted of providing false or misleading information for allowance claims under the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009.

Whilst Mr. Kruger's allowance claim of £226,379.54 for 2021-2022 was profligate, placing him in the top 200 of 667 MPs, it wasn't from false or misleading information. 

One of the challenges that I have received since starting this petition is that MPs are under no obligation to cause a by-election should they change parties, and there have be previous defections that have not resulted in a by-election. My reply is that whilst that may be true, it doesn't necessarily make it right.

Given the mood in the country, it is reasonable to say that we will see more MPs defecting to Reform. How many more ambitious or self-serving MPs might be tempted to jump ship? My question is, at what stage does this become undemocratic? Should enough do so, a Tory-Reform merger may be the outcome. Should that coalition become a majority it may force a change of government. Is that democratic? If enough defecting MPs can force an election at a national level, why shouldn't the defection of an MP force a by-election at a local level? 

So, I am considering widening this campaign to a change in the Recall of MPs Act.

There are currently a couple of petitions on the Government website that seem to be inspired by this latest defection: 

By-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party

and 

Give people power to dismiss MPs – change the Recall of MPs Act

but I believe these are too broad and unlikely to be successful. When the Recall of MPs Act was passed, it was under the very narrow circumstances detailed earlier, with members seemingly concerned about their vulnerability over contentious matters. I would argue that a defection goes beyond individual cases, but rather fundamentally differs from what the constituents wanted, a combination of both the individual for whom they voted and the party that they represented, and therefore deserves a by-election to affirm this change (or otherwise). 

I have some more research to do before I launch the petition (likely on the government platform to trigger a debate), but I would be interested in your thoughts in the meanwhile. Hopefully the news item will spur on interest in this petition, but please keep sharing it also.

Yours,

Craig