Should politicians who cross the floor resign and stand in a by-election

[Slacker]

There is no legal obligation to but is there a moral one to the electorate?

2 Tory MPs who defected to UKIP have , a UKIP councillor on CBC was elected as a LbDem has twice changed parties (via Independent).

I believe he should face a vote to determine whether he was elected with personal support or party support.

[Fly]

Yes, how can they just be put in a position by a party ?

[Pete]

Yep

[therealjr]

Yes but who is the ukip Cllr?

[Slacker]

Paul Stone

[therealjr]

Really? I'd missed that one. He's been at odds with the party (and his dad for that matter) for some time.

[Slacker]

strange the both left LibDems at same time but David hasn't made that step yet. Announced on Chesterfield UKIP page but last time I looked wasn't altered on councillor contacts

[Stuart]

Just read the item on the Chesterfield Post website about this. I have to say I find the timing tremendously interesting, coming quite soon after his Liberal chums put him forward as Mayor - something which I'd have thought would put all this "No-one's listening to me" stuff into some sort of context. Perhaps he'll move on when he discovers that UKIP is little more than a BNP for real ale lovers 

[Slacker]

To be fair the mayoralty is non political and is offered on length of service then alphabetical. Would be interested to see if this changed if seats were close with the mayor having casting vote at full council

[therealjr]

There was a row a few years ago when the sitting labour council broke with the protocol and proposed Paul Barry as mayor because they didn't want a lib dem mayor attracting publicity in the run up to what was going to be a very tight election. The ironic outcome being that he ended up presiding over the last couple of council meetings as Mr Barry as he got voted out!!

[Slacker]

Last election the deputy mayor who was due to become mayor in 2011 lost his seat hence Peter Barr was thrown in at the deep end

[therealjr]

Similar thing happened years ago to a Labour Cllr. That occasion was the catalyst for changing the system. Before this the Mayor went straight in and then spent year 2 as deputy. Other way round now of course