How should the political system respond to defections?

Tweet

 

As long ago as 1908, in Human Nature in Politics, Graham Wallas argued that political opinions and actions are largely the result of habit based on irrational assumptions. The idea that choosing for whom to vote is an essentially irrational act is not an entirely bad starting point for any discussion of politics – and perhaps we can extend it to the choice of which party to join. The defection of a Reform Ltd MS to Plaid Cymru was a superficially stunning one, although from an interview with her that I read a few weeks ago, I did wonder how on earth she had ended up as a member of Reform Ltd in the first place. Her views seemed to be so much at odds with the political platform of that company. That essential irrationality referred to above is one obvious potential explanation, even if it might be a little harsh to say so given the obvious genuineness of her concerns now. I find myself wondering exactly what selection process led the company to place her as their lead candidate – did she give the ‘expected’ answers to the questions, did they ignore her answers completely, or did they not even question her at all?

Whatever, the fact is that she has defected, and it looks as if she might be a great deal more comfortable in her new political home. Given the record of parties led by Farage, an implosion is as unsurprising as it is welcome. It’s still early in the Senedd term, and there is probably more to come, although whether it will involve a move as extreme as a leap from Reform to Plaid remains to be seen.

The defection highlights (another) problem with the new voting system for Senedd elections. People who voted solely on the basis of party affiliation now find their vote over-ruled a matter of a few months after the election. It seems to be a golden rule in politics that the party from whom a member defects demands a new election, whilst the party receiving the defector denies that one is necessary. It’s a rule which seemingly applies to all parties in all elected bodies.

Underlying the legal fact that no election is necessary when a politician switches party is the fiction in Westminster politics that the electoral mandate in a constituency is given to the individual not to the party. Indeed, naming the party affiliation on the ballot paper is a relatively new innovation – in 1948, it was explicitly banned. Yet, having moved from a situation where it was at least arguable that people were voting for both a party and an individual to one where we only vote for a party, the Senedd has retained that Westminster fiction as though it is some sort of divine law. Reluctant as I am to bolster Farage’s shysters in any way at all, I have to acknowledge that keeping the law as it is because it reduces Reform Ltd’s score by one is not a good enough reason to justify the current practice. It would surely be a fairer reflection on the voting which took place just a few months ago for the seat to be declared vacant and awarded to the next placed candidate for the party concerned. Too late for this instance, of course – but defections can affect any party, and this early in the Senedd, the chance of there being more cannot be ruled out. Personally, I’d prefer a full STV system, with any defection leading to a by-election, but if we’re to have a ‘party-only’ vote, let’s at least be consistent about what it means.