I resigned my seat in the NS legislature because I could not continue in a certain party. I did not think it proper to continue to hold it under any other label. So I agree with you. That said, however, one finds it hard not to forgive Reform for thinking tactically at this stage in their development. If they had by elections and lost one or more, it would halt their extraordinary momentum That is something they cannot afford to risk.
I thoroughly agree - this should become a convention. And yet....... It is famously difficult for a new party to gain a toe-hold as things stand, and so I quite understand the reluctance within Reform and for the individuals concerned. Sometimes it really is the case that discretion should be the better part of valour (or principle). I would be harder on Reform over this if any of the Lib/Lab/Con defections over the past decades had taken the honourable path.
Well said Jacob. As a slightly miffed Conservative voter in Newark on Trent it seems dishonest and entirely dishonourable for Robert Jenrick to swap sides after we voted Conservative only recently and not now call a By-election. As you say - We voted Conservative - we didn’t vote Reform. To now be represented by a Reform MP feels entirely illegitimate. He is the usurper. Bollingbrook found out it’s easy to take power - but harder to justify it after the event. I hope Jenrick et al find the same.
I resigned my seat in the NS legislature because I could not continue in a certain party. I did not think it proper to continue to hold it under any other label. So I agree with you. That said, however, one finds it hard not to forgive Reform for thinking tactically at this stage in their development. If they had by elections and lost one or more, it would halt their extraordinary momentum That is something they cannot afford to risk.
I thoroughly agree - this should become a convention. And yet....... It is famously difficult for a new party to gain a toe-hold as things stand, and so I quite understand the reluctance within Reform and for the individuals concerned. Sometimes it really is the case that discretion should be the better part of valour (or principle). I would be harder on Reform over this if any of the Lib/Lab/Con defections over the past decades had taken the honourable path.
Well said Jacob. As a slightly miffed Conservative voter in Newark on Trent it seems dishonest and entirely dishonourable for Robert Jenrick to swap sides after we voted Conservative only recently and not now call a By-election. As you say - We voted Conservative - we didn’t vote Reform. To now be represented by a Reform MP feels entirely illegitimate. He is the usurper. Bollingbrook found out it’s easy to take power - but harder to justify it after the event. I hope Jenrick et al find the same.