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Post by Davıd Boothroyd on Oct 6, 2020 11:46:10 GMT
SNP chief whip Patrick Grady has decided he won't be Margaret Ferrier's proxy as from yesterday, so she doesn't appear to have anyone to cast her vote.
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Post by Daft H'a'porth A'peth A'pith on Oct 6, 2020 12:35:39 GMT
SNP chief whip Patrick Grady has decided he won't be Margaret Ferrier's proxy as from yesterday, so she doesn't appear to have anyone to cast her vote. Nice of the SNP to disenfranchise a whole constituency, that elected a candidate of theirs.
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timmullen1
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Post by timmullen1 on Oct 6, 2020 12:47:17 GMT
SNP chief whip Patrick Grady has decided he won't be Margaret Ferrier's proxy as from yesterday, so she doesn't appear to have anyone to cast her vote. Nice of the SNP to disenfranchise a whole constituency, that elected a candidate of theirs. George Kerevan was partially defending her at the weekend, he could volunteer. Equally it’s seven days today since her positive test, and so she will have completed her 10 day isolation by next Monday’s sitting. And, as you well know, her constituents are not being disenfranchised, as her office is perfectly able to continue their functions of writing to Ministers and others on their behalf; I’m sure the overwhelming majority won’t notice whether or not she has voted today and tomorrow or not.
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Post by Davıd Boothroyd on Oct 6, 2020 12:49:16 GMT
Unfortunately George Kerevan hasn't been available to volunteer as a proxy for Margaret Ferrier since 2017.
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Post by Daft H'a'porth A'peth A'pith on Oct 6, 2020 12:50:48 GMT
Nice of the SNP to disenfranchise a whole constituency, that elected a candidate of theirs. George Kerevan was partially defending her at the weekend, he could volunteer. Equally it’s seven days today since her positive test, and so she will have completed her 10 day isolation by next Monday’s sitting. And, as you well know, her constituents are not being disenfranchised, as her office is perfectly able to continue their functions of writing to Ministers and others on their behalf; I’m sure the overwhelming majority won’t notice whether or not she has voted today and tomorrow or not. Yes it was an exaggeration, but it's a way for other parties to attack the SNP. That they are stopping their MP from being able to vote in parliament.
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timmullen1
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Post by timmullen1 on Oct 6, 2020 13:03:44 GMT
Unfortunately George Kerevan hasn't been available to volunteer as a proxy for Margaret Ferrier since 2017. Sorry I missed “former” when reading his quote.
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timmullen1
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Post by timmullen1 on Oct 6, 2020 13:07:33 GMT
George Kerevan was partially defending her at the weekend, he could volunteer. Equally it’s seven days today since her positive test, and so she will have completed her 10 day isolation by next Monday’s sitting. And, as you well know, her constituents are not being disenfranchised, as her office is perfectly able to continue their functions of writing to Ministers and others on their behalf; I’m sure the overwhelming majority won’t notice whether or not she has voted today and tomorrow or not. Yes it was an exaggeration, but it's a way for other parties to attack the SNP. That they are stopping their MP from being able to vote in parliament. I hardly think so given that pretty much every Party seems to support the SNP’s actions whilst recognising they can’t single handedly disqualify her from Parliament. If they’re so worried about the voters of her constituency not having a vote in Parliament they could always offer one of their own as a proxy.
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Chris from Brum
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Post by Chris from Brum on Oct 6, 2020 13:57:49 GMT
I know the speaker and deputy speakers don't normally vote on their own account, but could they stand proxy in this case?
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neilm
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Post by neilm on Oct 6, 2020 16:45:55 GMT
However, it is hard to imagine that an MP from Scotland does not have somewhere to live in London. The only caveat I’d throw in is that, perhaps in an abundance of caution after the expenses scandal, a sizeable number of MPs are choosing to use their housing allowance to stay in Travelodge type places rather than rent/lease/buy more permanent accommodation, in which case it would have been irresponsible and impractical for her to return there and Scotland would have been the better option. EDIT post cross with greatkingrat saying much the same thing Two MPs of my acquaintance have mentioned how inconvenient this is but continue to do it. There are MPs who live together and there are a few who aren't there so she could have borrowed a flat or, at a push, got an Airbnb (probably a bit costly for ten days).
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Max
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Post by Max on Oct 6, 2020 17:30:53 GMT
I know the speaker and deputy speakers don't normally vote on their own account, but could they stand proxy in this case? There’s no obligation for proxy voters to be from the same party as the person who is absent. At the beginning of the system I noticed that Liz Saville Roberts (PC) was the proxy nominee for Claire Hanna (SDLP). I don’t think that the Speaker or Deputies would break tradition to cast a vote for Ferrier, but would expect she’d be able to find somebody if she really wanted, assuming she’s clubbable enough to have formed some friendly relationships!
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timmullen1
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Post by timmullen1 on Oct 6, 2020 17:49:06 GMT
The only caveat I’d throw in is that, perhaps in an abundance of caution after the expenses scandal, a sizeable number of MPs are choosing to use their housing allowance to stay in Travelodge type places rather than rent/lease/buy more permanent accommodation, in which case it would have been irresponsible and impractical for her to return there and Scotland would have been the better option. EDIT post cross with greatkingrat saying much the same thing Two MPs of my acquaintance have mentioned how inconvenient this is but continue to do it. There are MPs who live together and there are a few who aren't there so she could have borrowed a flat or, at a push, got an Airbnb (probably a bit costly for ten days). I doubt either of those are practical after a positive Covid test.
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Post by tonygreaves on Oct 6, 2020 21:41:26 GMT
A little different for peers I will grant, but I would think most MPs who live a significant distance from London do have somewhere near to Parliament. Someone who lives say in Leeds is not going to commute every day. MPs even have a specific allowance for the express purpose of ensuring they have such a second home. No, it's an allowance to cover accommodation costs in London. It can be rent (but no longer a mortgage) but it could be hotel etc bills.
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Post by tonygreaves on Oct 6, 2020 21:46:53 GMT
If you have tested positive could you hire a car? (Assuming you can drive of course). Who would let out an Airbnb to someone who had tested positive? The Parliamentary advice seems sensible - the question is about how to do it. I would take advice from the horse's mouth.
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ilerda
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Post by ilerda on Oct 6, 2020 23:08:34 GMT
It’s also worth noting that this wasn’t the advice in place when the Ferrier incident occurred. It has been updated to its current form since the revelations about her actions came to light.
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Post by tonygreaves on Oct 7, 2020 19:58:39 GMT
True (but I am not sure there was any advice before this bulletin came round.) Anyway everyone wandering round the building etc is now being strongly advised to wear a mask.
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Post by Davıd Boothroyd on Oct 8, 2020 22:37:29 GMT
By the by, Margaret Ferrier has found an MP to vote for her by proxy as from today. It's Jonathan Edwards, currently Independent having been suspended from Plaid Cymru for a year after a caution for assaulting his wife.
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middyman
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Post by middyman on Oct 8, 2020 22:45:54 GMT
By the by, Margaret Ferrier has found an MP to vote for her by proxy as from today. It's Jonathan Edwards, currently Independent having been suspended from Plaid Cymru for a year after a caution for assaulting his wife. A match made in heaven?
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Post by LDCaerdydd on Oct 9, 2020 9:05:59 GMT
Well that's a brave move by him. I'm sure I've seen a list online of MPs and their proxies, but parliament's new website seems to have stripped everything down to the bare essentials
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Post by timmullen1 on Oct 9, 2020 9:34:57 GMT
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Chris from Brum
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Post by Chris from Brum on Oct 9, 2020 9:42:20 GMT
I see my MP (Tahir Ali) is on that list. What constitutes eligibility for a proxy vote? Is it simply that they have applied to the Clerk of the House?
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