Quote Originally Posted by ramAnag View Post
Completely agree and not just because of the recent defections, although having a party with eight MPs, half of which were elected on a completely different ?ticket? does highlight the issue.

They?re basically saying that the person is more important than the Party at election time and I think most would agree that that is seldom the case.
You raise an interesting point here. Many years ago Id say the individual was more important than the party in terms of MP-hood. Post war (WW2), with the advent of stronger party politics, three line whips and so on, most of my lifetime has seen the party being the most important factor. But now I am seeing the peronalities become more important again, enhanced by the way MP's (or candidates) have embraced celebrity status and used social media to make it about them first and the party second. no doubt that people vote for personalities now, good local MP's eg Abbott (which makes farage an exception) and I think there is a tendency to look for a strong individual with local connections to take up vacancies, rather than dumping a party apparatchik on a vacant constituency.

Im not suggesting Jenrick, Braverman or the other guy whose name I forget from Swale's former gaffe are necessarily good or bad constituency MPs but I think they are now under more pressure to work for their votes rather than rely on blue rosette/red rosette guaranteeing victory. yes there will be some constituencies where the rightly dressed pig will get in but I sense thats is lessening in importance, which I think is positive (although not when MP's assume this celebrity status that is all to common).

Not sure where I'm going with this except to say that we will continue to see growing importance of the individual which, as someone who despises "party politicians" I would welcome, with some reservations.

Should there be bye elections as Sith says, or a GE if the PM changes - On balance I think so, as this would make defectors forge strong local ties before doing so, which I think would be positive.

That said:
1) a defector from Tory to Reform likely would get in with an increased majority given the way Reform have evolved in 18 months;
2) if a change of PM created a general election, Truss would have caused more chaos than she did as the GE following her ascendancy to the throne wouldnt have happened before she had herselg=f been replaced and needed a second one!