§ Mr. Dennis Canavan (West Stirlingshire)I beg to move,
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 by inserting among the persons disqualified for membership of the House of Commons any person who, having been described on the ballot paper at the time of his election to the House of Commons as a candidate for any political party, thereafter resigns his membership of that party.You are unique in many respects, but especially because you are the only Member of the House who was not elected to Parliament on a party political description—at least, not at the latest general election. All other hon. Members stood as party political candidates and were elected because the majority of voters voted for their political allegiances. The majority of people voting in a general election are voting not simply on the merits or demerits of candidates as individuals; they are voting Labour, Tory or Liberal, as the case may be. It is sheer arrogance on the part of any hon. Member to pretend otherwise.Since the 1970 general election a space has been reserved on the ballot paper for a description of the candidate. Most candidates have used that space to describe their party political affiliations. I do not know of any hon. Member who, at the 1979 general election, described himself as a Social Democrat, yet there are 13 Social Democrats sitting in the House who, in 1979, stood as Labour candidates, and one who stood as a Tory candidate. They have the brass neck to sit here having resigned from their parties. They call themselves Social Democrats.
There is nothing new in all this. The history of the Parliamentary Labour Party is littered with the political corpses of people who thought that they could break away and go it alone—for example, Oswald Mosley, Desmond Donnelly, Dick Taverne, Jim Sillars, and the right hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Prentice), who was elected to the House as the Labour Member for Newham, North-East and who crossed the Floor of the House to join the most reactionary Right-wing Government ever.
I accept that anybody is entitled to change his mind, especially a politician. Even St. Paul had his road to Damascus, but he had the slight advantage that he finished facing in the correct direction. If elected representatives of the people—elected because thousands voted for the general philosophy and policies of the party for which they stood—resign membership of their parties it is incumbent upon them to resubmit themselves to the electorate who put them in the House. Otherwise, they can rightly be accused by their electorate of hanging on to their seats and parliamentary salaries under false pretences.
Even Dick Taverne, for whose policies I had no great respect, at least had the decency and guts to resubmit himself to the people of Lincoln. The members of this latest bunch of so-called Social Democrats seem to be following the bad example of the right hon. Member for Daventry by refusing to test their new colours before their constituents. These people are phoney democrats. They are anti-social and anti-democratic. They are taking a massive swipe at representative democracy as we know it. They pose as the guardians of parliamentary democracy, 814 but the truth is that at the 1979 general election 255,558 Labour voters in 13 constituencies who successfully voted for the return of a Labour Member of Parliament now find themselves deprived of their Labour representatives and are instead being represented by so-called Social Democrats.
To prove that I have no party political bias, I can tell the House that 33,796 Tory voters in one Tory constituency who successfully voted for the return of a Tory Member to Parliament now find themselves represented by a so-called Social Democrat.
The whole business is bringing Parliament into disrepute and is being exacerbated by the influence of certain extra-parliamentary non-elected unrepresentative forces which are trying to engineer it all. I refer, for example, to Shirley Williams. At the last general election she achieved the remarkable feat of turning a safe Labour majority of almost 10,000 into a Tory majority of more than 1,000. Roy Jenkins is another enemy of parliamentary democracy. That is clearly demonstrated by his fanatical devotion to the bureaucracy of the Common Market. I understand his fanaticism, because he made £250,000 during the past four years as head of the Commission. He returned home and found that his £30,000 a year severance pay was not enough pocket money. He has become a merchant banker. He bought a half-page advertisement in The Guardian to recruit more subversive elements.
The only honourable and decent course for the Jenkinsites is to resign. If they wish, they can stand in the subsequent by-election under their new colours. If any of them have the decency and guts to stand in a by-election they will get their come-uppance. The majority of voters, especially in Labour constituencies, do not have much time for defectors, turncoats and traitors. Those enemies of democracy will be exposed in any by-election and thrown out on their necks.
My Bill will do a public service. I appeal to all moderate Members such as myself who are interested in the preservation of parliamentary democracy to support it.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder I have received notice that the hon. Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wrigglesworth) seeks to oppose the motion.
§ Mr. Ian Wrigglesworth (Thornaby)I pay tribute to the hon. Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan) for his wit—both intended and unintended—but not for his interpretation of parliamentary democracy. As he said, there is nothing new in all this. It is the sort of action that has been taken in the representative system of parliamentary democracy in Britain for many centuries. The hon. Gentleman is proposing a matter of the utmost importance to Parliament—not only to the Social Democrats, but to the whole House. He raised the question of who should have the right to disqualify or remove an hon. Member from the House.
I ask the House to oppose the introduction of the Bill because it is a fundamental attack on the principles of representative parliamentary democracy. The House should uphold the established view that only constituents have the right to remove Members. It is a further move—and the source of the Bill is significant—in the 815 direction of extending the authority of the party label over Members of the House, because it would undermine the principle of representative parliamentary democracy.
The House has a duty to uphold the view that constituents are the only people who should have the right to remove a representative. The relationship with constituents is the most important relationship that hon. Members have. It is wrong to seek to make an hon. Member responsible to anyone other than the electorate. That is what the Bill proposes to do. It seeks to extend the authority of the party over the Member of Parliament. It seeks to remove people who have reneged not on a party manifesto but simply on a party label, irrespective of what that party decides to do and whether that party changes its constitution, personality and policies. The Bill seeks to tie the Member of Parliament to the party label.
In those circumstances, inevitably the question is raised as to who controls the party label. Parties change their policies, personalities and constitution from time to time. By implication, the Bill is saying that an hon. Member must accept that it is his party, right or wrong, irrespective of the conscience and attitude of the individual hon. Member.
The Bill is only one step removed from the time when the withdrawal of the party whip would mean expulsion from the House of the hon. Member concerned. The Bill does not do that, but it is only one short step from it.
The most fundamental aspect of the matter is that the Bill undermines the principle of representative parliamentary democracy. In his speech in Bristol, which has been quoted many times in debates in the Labour Party in recent years, Burke laid out the principles upon which hon. Members sit in this place. There is nothing inevitable about the way in which the parties have begun to encroach more and more upon hon. Members and upon the House in recent years. My colleagues and I would like to see that process reversed. There has been pressure, particularly in the Labour Party in recent times, to turn hon. Members into delegates. Other hon. Members and I resisted that pressure strongly, and the House should resist it strongly today.
Many hon. Members will be watched by their constituents today to see whether they vote for the extension of the sort of campaign that has been run by the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy to seek to shackle hon. Members to their party and its policies and constitution, irrespective of their own views.
I hope that the House will bear in mind the implications of the Bill and will not be swayed by short-term political advantage. I hope that it will consider the profound constitutional implications of writing into a statute a means of disqualifying hon. Members from the House.
§ Question put, pursuant to Standing Order No. 13 (Motions for leave to bring in Bills and nomination of Select Committees at commencement of public business):
§ The House divided: Ayes 142, Noes 166.
818| Division No. 120] | [4.00 pm |
| AYES | |
| Abse, Leo | Bennett, Andrew (St'kp'tN) |
| Adams, Allen | Bidwell, Sydney |
| Allaun, Frank | Booth, Rt Hon Albert |
| Archer, Rt Hon Peter | Bottomley, Rt Hon A, (M'b'ro) |
| Ashton, Joe | Brown, Michael (Brigg&Sc'n) |
| Atkinson, N. (H'gey,) | Brown, R. C. (N'castle W) |
| Barnett, Guy (Greenwich) | Callaghan, Jim (Midd't'n&P) |
| Campbell-Savours, Dale | Lyon, Alexander (York) |
| Canavan, Dennis | McCartney, Hugh |
| Carmichael, Neil | McKay, Allen(Penistone) |
| Carter-Jones, Lewis | McKelvey, William |
| Clark, Dr David (S Shields) | McNamara, Kevin |
| Cocks, Rt Hon M. (B'stol S) | McTaggart, Robert |
| Coleman, Donald | McWilliam, John |
| Concannon, Rt Hon J. D. | Marlow, Tony |
| Cook, Robin F. | Marshall, D (G'gowS'ton) |
| Cowans, Harry | Marshall, DrEdmund (Goole) |
| Crowther, J. S. | Marshall, Jim (Leicester S) |
| Cryer, Bob | Martin, M (G'gow S'burn) |
| Dalyell, Tam | Maxton,John |
| Davidson, Arthur | Maynard, Miss Joan |
| Davies, Rt Hon Denzil (L'lli) | Meacher, Michael |
| Davis, Clinton (Hackney C) | Mikardo, Ian |
| Davis, T. (B'ham, Stechf'd) | Millan, Rt Hon Bruce |
| Deakins, Eric | Morris, Rt Hon A. (W'shawe) |
| Dean, Joseph (Leeds West) | Morris, Rt Hon J. (Aberavon) |
| Dixon, Donald | Morton, George |
| Dobson, Frank | Newens, Stanley |
| Dormand, Jack | O'Neill, Martin |
| Dubs, Alfred | Orme, Rt Hon Stanley |
| Duffy, A. E. P. | Pavitt, Laurie |
| Dunwoody, Hon Mrs G. | Powell, Raymond (Ogmore) |
| Eadie, Alex | Prescott, John |
| Eastham, Ken | Price, C. (Lewisham W) |
| Edwards, R. (W'hampt'n S E) | Richardson, Jo |
| Ellis, R, (NE D'bysh're) | Robert s, Albert (Normanton) |
| English, Michael | Robert s, Allan (Bootle) |
| Ennals, Rt Hon David | Robert s, Ernest (Hackney N) |
| Evans, Ioan (Aberdare) | Rooker, J. W. |
| Evans, John (Newton) | Ross, Ernest (Dundee West) |
| Fletcher, Ted (Darlington) | Rowlands, Ted |
| Foot, Rt Hon Michael | Ryman, John |
| Foster, Derek | Sever, John |
| Foulkes, George | Sheerman, Barry |
| Freeson, Rt Hon Reginald | Sheldon, Rt Hon R. |
| Garrett, John (Norwich S) | Short, Mrs Renée |
| Garrett, W, E. (Wallsend) | Silkin, Rt Hon J. (Deptford) |
| Golding, John | Silverman, Julius |
| Graham, Ted | Skinner, Dennis |
| Grant, George(Morpeth) | Smith, Cyril(Rochdale) |
| Hamilton, James (Bothwell) | Smith, Rt Hon J. (N Lanark) |
| Harrison, Rt Hon Walter | Soley, Clive |
| Hattersley, Rt Hon Roy | Stallard, A. W. |
| Haynes, Frank | Stott, Roger |
| Heffer, Eric S. | Strang, Gavin |
| Hogg, N. (E Dunb't'nshire) | Straw, Jack |
| Homewood, William | Taylor, Mrs Ann (Bolton W) |
| Hughes, Mark (Durham) | Thorne, Stan (Preston South) |
| Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen N) | Tilley, John |
| Jay, Rt Hon Douglas | Tinn, James |
| Johnson, James (Hull West) | Torney, Tom |
| Jones, Barry (East Flint) | Urwin, Rt Hon Tom |
| Jones, Dan (Burnley) | Watkins, David |
| Kilroy-Silk, Robert | Welsh, Michael |
| Lambie, David | White, Frank R. |
| Lamond, James | Williams, Rt Hon K(S'sea W) |
| Leadbitter, Ted | Winnick, David |
| Leighton, Ronald | Woolmer, Kenneth |
| Lestor, Miss Joan | Young, David (Bolton E.) |
| Lewis, Arthur (N'ham N W) | |
| Lewis, Ron (Carlisle) | Tellers for the Ayes: |
| Litherland, Robert | Mr. Mart in Flannery and Mr. Russell Kerr. |
| Lofthouse, Geoffrey |
| NOES | |
| Adley, Robert | Bonsor, Sir Nicholas |
| Alexander, Richard | Boscawen, Hon Robert |
| Ancram, Michael | Bottomley, Peter (W'wich W) |
| Atkinson, David (B'm'th, E) | Bowden, Andrew |
| Baker, Nicholas (N Dorset) | Braine, Sir Bernard |
| Beaumont-Dark, Anthony | Bright, Graham |
| Beith, A, J. | Brinton, Tim |
| Bell, Sir Ronald | Brooke, Hon Peter |
| Bendall, Vivian | Browne, John (Winchester) |
| Berry, Hon Anthony | Bruce-Gardyne, John |
| Biggs-Davison, John | Buchanan-Smith, Alick |
| Blackburn, John | Buck, Antony |
| Chalker, Mrs. Lynda | Howells, Geraint |
| Chapman, Sydney | Hunt, John (Ravensbourne) |
| Churchill, W, S. | JohnsonSmith, Geoffrey |
| Clark, Hon A. (Plym'th, S'n) | Johnston, Russell(Inverness) |
| Clark, Sir W. (Croydon S) | Jopling, Rt Hon Michael |
| Clarke, Kenneth (Rushcliffe) | Kaberry, Sir Donald |
| Cope, John | Kimball, Marcus |
| Corrie, John | Knight, MrsJill |
| Cranborne, Viscount | Knox, David |
| Cunningham, G. (Islington S) | Latham, Michael |
| Dean, Paul (North Somerset) | Lawrence, Ivan |
| Dorrell, Stephen | LeMarchant, Spencer |
| Douglas-Hamilton, LordJ. | Lester Jim (Beeston) |
| Dunn, Robert (Dartford) | Lewis, Kenneth (Rutland) |
| Durant, Tony | Lloyd, Ian (Havant & W'loo) |
| Dykes, Hugh | Mabon, Rt Hon Dr J. Dickson |
| Eggar, Tim | McCrindle, Robert |
| Elliott, Sir William | MacKay, John (Argyll) |
| Emery, Peter | McQuarrie, Albert |
| Fairgrieve, Russell | Major, John |
| Farr, John | Marland, Paul |
| Fell, Anthony | Marten, Neil (Banbury) |
| Fisher, Sir Nigel | Mather, Carol |
| Fitch, Alan | Mawby, Ray |
| Fletcher, A. (Ed'nb'gh N) | Mawhinney, Dr Brian |
| Fletcher-Cooke, Sir Charles | Maxwell-Hyslop, Robin |
| Forman, Nigel | Meyer, Sir Anthony |
| Forrester, John | Miller, Hal (B'grove) |
| Fowler, Rt Hon Norman | Mills, Peter (West Devon) |
| Freud, Clement | Montgomery, Fergus |
| Garel-Jones, Tristan | Morgan, Geraint |
| Gilmour, Rt Hon Sir Ian | Murphy, Christopher |
| Glyn, Dr Alan | Needham, Richard |
| Goodlad, Alastair | Newton, Tony |
| Gow, Ian | Page, Rt Hon Sir G. (Crosby) |
| Greenway, Harry | Parkinson, Cecil |
| Grimond, Rt Hon J. | Parris, Matthew |
| Gummer,JohnSelwyn | Patten, Christopher (Bath) |
| Hamilton, Michael (Salisbury) | Pawsey, James |
| Hampson, Dr Keith | Pollock, Alexander |
| Haselhurst, Alan | Porter, Barry |
| Hawkins, Paul | Powell, Rt Hon J, E. (S Down) |
| Hayhoe, Barney | Price, Sir David (Eastleigh) |
| Heddle, John | Prior, Rt Hon James |
| Higgins, Rt Hon Terence L | Proctor, K. Harvey |
| Holland, Philip (Carlton) | Pym, Rt Hon Francis |
| Howell, Ralph (N Norfolk) | Rathbone, Tim |
| Rees-Davies, W. R. | Thompson, Donald |
| Rhodes James, Robert | Thornton, Malcolm |
| Ridley, Hon Nicholas | Townend, John(Bridlington) |
| Rifkind, Malcolm | Trippier, David |
| Rost, Peter | Trotter, Neville |
| Sainsbury, Hon Timothy | Vaughan, Dr Gerard |
| St. John-Stevas, Rt Hon N. | Viggers, Peter |
| Scott, Nicholas | Wainwright, R (Colne V) |
| Shaw, Michael (Scarborough) | Wakeham, John |
| Shelton, William (Streatham) | Walker, B. (Perth) |
| Shepherd, Colin(Hereford) | Walker-Smith, Rt Hon Sir D. |
| Shepherd, Richard | Ward, John |
| Silvester, Fred | Wells, Bowen |
| Sims, Roger | Wheeler, John |
| Skeet, T. H. H. | Whitehead, Phillip |
| Smith, Dudley | Whitney, Raymond |
| Speller, Tony | Wiggin, Jerry |
| Squire, Robin | Wigley, Dafydd |
| Steel, Rt Hon David | Wilkinson, John |
| Stevens, Martin | Williams, D (Montgomery) |
| Stewart, Ian (Hitchin) | Winterton, Nicholas |
| Stewart, A. (E Renfrewshire) | Younger, Rt Hon George |
| Stokes, John | |
| Stradling Thomas, J. | Tellers for the Noes: |
| Temple-Morris, Peter | Mr. Patrick Cormack and Mr. Michael Brotherton. |
| Thomas, Rt Hon Peter |
§ Question accordingly negatived.
§ Mr. Tristan Garel-Jones (Watford)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The hon. Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wrigglesworth) spoke against the Bill on which the House has just voted and, as a result, the House was forced into a Division. Many of my hon. Friends voted for the survival of the new group, whereas the members of that group, on the first occasion on which it has divided the House on its own initiative, decided to abstain. Will you give the House guidance, Mr. Speaker, on how we are to deal with this question in the future?
§ Dr. David Owen (Plymouth, Devonport)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. My right hon. and hon. Friends and I did not vote in the Division Lobbies because we felt that if we did it might be construed that we had an interest.