Profile picture
, 4 tweets, 4 min read
My Authors
Read all threads
This piece in today's @Telegraph by @edwardmalnick on the extent to which Commons proxy voting is handing power to the party whips cites Unit analysis and quotes Unit Director Meg Russell on the effects. 1/4

@uclnews @UKandEU @StudyofParl

telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/…
Below what Meg Russell said to today's @Telegraph about the effects of MPs' proxy votes going to the whips.

This was unnecessary - the previous remote voting retained individual rights. But ministers unilaterally chose to end that system. 2/4

@CommonsProcCom @HansardSociety
The full breakdown of MPs' proxy votes as cited by @edwardmalnick in today's @Telegraph is here.

In total 154 MPs have requested proxies as Covid-19 is preventing them attending the Commons to vote. Of these, 122 votes have gone to the whips. 3/4
Our original thread analysing the extent to which MPs' proxy votes were going to party whips (and other frontbenchers) during their absence due to Covid-19 is below.

Since then the numbers have grown further. 4/4

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh.

Keep Current with Constitution Unit

Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

Twitter may remove this content at anytime, convert it as a PDF, save and print for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video

1) Follow Thread Reader App on Twitter so you can easily mention us!

2) Go to a Twitter thread (series of Tweets by the same owner) and mention us with a keyword "unroll" @threadreaderapp unroll

You can practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @ConUnit_UCL see all

Profile picture
Constitution Unit
@ConUnit_UCL
NEW BLOG: 📢📢Brexit & Parliament: Where did it all go wrong?

Unit Director & @UKandEU Senior Fellow Meg Russell summarises her new article for the journal Parliamentary Affairs on what caused parliament's highly adversarial Brexit 'perfect storm'. 1/10

constitution-unit.com/2020/06/14/bre…
Four features fuelled this 'perfect storm':

1. The 2016 Brexit referendum

The Leave result wasn't what the Prime Minister or most MPs wanted, but parliament was left to put it into effect.

This created clear tensions between parliamentary and popular sovereignty. 2/10
2. Minority government

The UK is unaccustomed to minority governments, & proved ill-equipped or prepared to do what was required.

Prime Minister at the time, Theresa May, was rigid and tribal, making her fundamentally unsuited to managing a minority government. 3/10
Read 10 tweets
Profile picture
Constitution Unit
@ConUnit_UCL
A group of democracy specialists, including the Unit's Director Meg Russell, have a letter in today's Times on how the ending of the virtual House of Commons breached fundamental democratic principles.

The full text and signatories are below. 1/8

thetimes.co.uk/edition/commen…
"As specialists in the principles and practice of democracy, we are gravely concerned about the suspension of the ‘hybrid’ House of Commons. This very clearly breached fundamental democratic principles.

2/8
The hybrid parliament was established through consultation and cross-party agreement, as is appropriate. Its dismantling followed the reverse approach. 

3/8
Read 8 tweets
Profile picture
Constitution Unit
@ConUnit_UCL
Results are now up for the vote on the virtual House of Commons.

Absent voters were 90 Conservatives, 122 others (inc. 69 Labour, 40 SNP)

Had all absent Conservatives supported the government it would have won 332: 307

But they wouldn't have done. 1/5

votes.parliament.uk/Votes/Commons/…
Quite a number of absent Conservatives are clearly shielding. Most vocal spokesperson for them is @halfon4harlowMP (below).

Had they been able to vote they surely would have voted to keep their voting rights. 2/5

There are others who have been outspoken, such as @Mike_Fabricant below.

Clearly not likely to vote for the government - almost certainly against. 3/5

Read 6 tweets

Embed code for your website

×
Follow Us on Twitter!

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3.00/month or $30.00/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!