Mp's unaccountable?

[El D]

Has any MP ever been removed for performance related issues? Not the usual scandal involving the maid or the dog or whatever, purely on delivering what they promised to their constituents? Isn't this one of the major problems, once elected they only answer to the 'Party' and as long as they tow the line they are untouchable no matter what their constituents actually want?

[bernardo]

Of course they have.  Dozens of MPs were removed for performance-related issues just this week.  That's what general elections are for.

[Dom Tuk]

case in point being John Reid....he was moved from health because he just did not meet the targets.

[El D]

So they get called to account every 5 years . . . great. Not really what I was after.

Thanks Dom, although nagging at the back of my mind is the suspicion that such issues are normally the result of ******* off someone higher up the chain.

[OBonio]

I was just discussing this last night. There should be a way for the constituents to oust councillors/MPs if they fail to deliver on their promises. If I were to get a job and I'd lied on my CV to get it, I'd be out within 6 months. Why are politicians any different? Makes me mad so it does.

[kazza12345]

didnt estelle morris get the boot from education for poor performance?

[jno]

Estelle Morris quit, as I recall, after infighting with Blairites. What you have in mind is perhaps the sort of 'recall' election they had in California, which got Arnold Schwarzenegger is as governor after voters voted to oust his predecessor in mid-term. Don't like the idea myself: how are you supposed to get on with your job and take a long-term view if you're liable to be thrown out at any moment? Sometimes you have to have short-term pain in order to reap the benefits in the long run; but if Californian politicians tried that, they'd be thrown out after the first week.   

[OBonio]

how are you supposed to get on with your job and take a long-term view if you're liable to be thrown out at any moment

Well, don't make promises you can't keep to start with. And being honest with the electorate would be nice.

Is this honestly too much to ask? Obviously it is, and it's a very very sad state to be in.

[avis50]

There are no performance criteria.

MPs can be deselected by their party or not elected by the public, next time around.

But meanwhile, because officially you have elected an individual person, any MP is free to do what he or she wishes (within the law and parliamentary rules).  They don't have to follow a party line.  They can even change party if they want to. 

[Grunty]

There was once a joke told about a certain MP.  'What is the difference between him and a yeti?'

Answer - people claim to have seen the yeti sometimes.