MPs call for free vote on Kelly proposals |

Thursday 29th October 2009 | 10:42

MPs call for free vote on Kelly proposals

Almost three quarters of MPs, journalists and other political insiders have called for a free vote on the Kelly expenses proposals, contrasting with the Downing Street announcement that there will be no vote at all on the matter.

A Downing Street spokesman yesterday confirmed that there were no plans to put the recommendations of Sir David Kelly to a vote in the Commons.

But according to the latest PoliticsHome research, there is a widespread feeling within Westminster that not only should MPs vote on the Commons, but that they should be free from the influence of party whips when doing so.

Yesterday, the PoliticsHome Phi100 panel were asked whether there should be a free or a whipped vote on the proposals. Seventy three per cent believed that there should be a free vote on whether to adopt the Kelly proposals. Just over a quarter (twenty six per cent) believe that a whipped vote would be preferable.

There was a strong preference for a free vote across the political spectrum and among all professional sectors on the panel.

MPs must justify their views

A non-aligned media panellist called for a free vote, saying: ‘any MP must justify his views to his voters’.

Another agreed, saying ‘Make each MP answer for his own vote’.

A third panellist, however, commented: ‘MPs can't be trusted to make the right judgement! No other workers get to vote on their own employment terms like this so why should they?’

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