Selfie Photos Of Ballot Paper No Confidence

[gordiescotland1]

I find it disgraceful and unprofessional that MPs last night tweeted photos of their ballot paper supporting Theresa May. If a member of the public were to do that it would be illegal under the Representation Of The People Act 1963 we could face a fine and or prison why on earth is it ok for them to do it

[Barmaid]

Because it's not a public vote. It was something internal to the party.

[woofgang]

Because its not a secret ballot. Have you got a link to your assertion? I am not aware that it is illegal to tell people how you voted in an election...it may be illegal to take photos in a polling station. As a constitient I might well want to know how my (or other) mp's voted in a ballot and would not expect to be told its a secret.

[HansUrbancka]

It was a secret ballot. However, there was nothing to stop a Voter from disclosing how he/she voted.

Hans.

[woofgang]

well obvs it wasn't because people have announced how they voted

[grumpy01]

When Theresa May leaves office,sometime between now and 2022,as I mentioned was likely in my posting yesterday given her husband's comments, there is likely to be an almost civil war in the Conservative party.As there is no stand successor goodness knows who will lead the Conservative party at the next General Election.

[bhg481]

It was a secret ballot, in the same way that a General Election is a secret ballot; individual results are not available from the tellers. There is nothing to stop people saying for whom they voted in a General Election but there is no way to find out if they won't tell you.

[HansUrbancka]

Hi woofgang.....A secret ballot means that, unless one volunteers information, nobody needs to know how a person voted.

The following link shows that there was a secret ballot in this instance. :-
https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/theresa-may-wins-secret-ballot-vote-of-no-confidence-here-s-what-happens-now-1-9490330

Hans.

[Old_Geezer]

They're probably hoping for reward in the present, and accepting being nowhere come the next Tory leader.

[jno]

the downside of secret ballots is that anyone can say they voted for the winner, so it's useful to have proof.

But this isn't anything to do wth representation of the people; as Barmaid says, it was a private party vote. (The people would probably have voted the same way, though.)

[Old_Geezer]

If so, IMO, there's little or no hope for the nation.

[emmie]

it was stupid, and hey these are stupid times...

[Buenchico]

When MPs vote in Parliament they're (nominally) representing their constituents, so the way they voted MUST be a matter of public record. (You can find out how MPs voted on any specific issue very easily online, through the official website set up precisely for that purpose).

While a vote on a party matter is clearly different, a vote which affects who our Prime Minister will be is still something which affects an MPs constituents, so I'd suggest that (rather than keeping the way they voted secret) ALL Conservative MPs should be REQUIRED to disclose the way they voted.

[HansUrbancka]

@Buenchico......^^^ You say "(You can find out how MPs voted on any specific issue very easily online, through the official website set up precisely for that purpose). "

I have tried searching on-line but am unable to find a website Do you have a link.?

Hans.

[Buenchico]

For Hans:

The official (Hansard) website:
https://hansard.parliament.uk/search/Divisions?house=commons

An independent one (where you can simply enter your postcode to see how your local MP has been voting):
https://www.publicwhip.org.uk/

[HansUrbancka]

Thanks Chris......You're a wizard.

Hans.