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Influences on MP's voting - Coggle Diagram
Influences on MP's voting
Constituents
Protection and advancement of the collective interests of their constituency.
By voting the way their constitutents would like, their chances of re-election are boosted
Grievances of constituents can be put right
John Redwood went by the letters he was receiving from his constituents to decide how to vote on same-sex marriage, in 2013.
Party line
If they defy the party whip, they are likely to face party discipline/deselection, depending on circumstances of government
In 2019, 21 Conservative MP's had the party whip removed from them after they voted against the government to allow Parliament to take control of the legislative agenda on Brexit.
Before Phillip Hammond had the party whip removed from him in 2019, he hadn't rebelled against the Tory whip for 22 years.
If MP's want to get a position in government, they are best to vote with the government.
Independent judgment
Trustee model as proposed by Edmund Burke
Free to decide (voting by conscience) how to vote based on merits of each piece of legislation
MP's may feel they know best because they have a greater understanding than constituents or other people in society.
Free votes on issues like same-sex marriage allow for more conscience voting
In 2003, 149 MP's voted against the Iraq War including 84 Labour MP's (i.e. Corbyn against the party whip)
Section of society
This is where MP's vote in the best interests of the section of society they may represent- gender, ethnic minority, education, social class etc.
Example- Women will vote for the furtherance of women's rights and liberties (i.e. against discrimination at work)