Freedom To Act In Your Interest

MSs are expected to vote as their party instructs them. Their bargaining chips are handed over at the door. They could disobey, but that is the nuclear button and will have severe consequences for their career.

Open Party MSs are different. They can support a governing party, but they can apply conditions to that support. They can require that amendments to government legislation that make it better; they can require reciprocal support from government for their own campaigns or legislation.

They have bargaining power.

Passing legislation in Parliament is to all intents and purposes the preserve of the governing party. Parliament was set up so that any MP can bring a bill forward (a private member’s bill). However, the governing party controls the parliamentary time and very few private member bills get passed.

Of the more than 2,500 PMBs introduced between 2010–24, just 110* have received royal assent, that is just 4%.

Open Party MPs have bargaining power with government to obtain support. They have freedom to associate with other similar minded MPs. Legislation can become not just the preserve of the governing party, providing a bit more balance in the power between Government and Parliament.

Many people feel the balance of power between parliament and government is out of kilter. Open Party MPs can help to redress that balance.