Would be nice Les, if true, but I'm afraid it's not. We have this wonderful system here called the whip. It gently guides party MPs toward the government (Tony) POV.

One line whip:- "We'd realy like you to vote with us, and we'll explain why there isn't a conflict of concience. And we did give you the key to the members' loo".

Two line whip:- "We will take it seriously amiss if you don't vote with us, and sanctions might be applied. Your key to the members loo may be in jeopardy".

Three line whip:- "You will vote with us, or we'll cut your bollocks off, and you won't need a key to the members' loo".

Nobody ever changes anything until he is Prime Minister, and experience suggests that all changes he makes from that point on will be for the worse. Hence my comment above, re. independent candidates. It may not be practical, but it might possibly produce 635 MPs who are not afraid to vote for what they know is right.


Whether that would be better or not, in terms of results achieved, I know not, but it would be closer to what is really meant by democracy.

What we have now is a ruling clique who cannot be controlled, because their seats (votes) outnumber all other parties combined.

In essence this is little different than Germany under Hitler, or Russia under Stalin.

Don T.