The House of Commons has been rocked by revelations that two suspended Tory MPs have been voting via proxy. David Warburton and Julian Knight, who are both under investigation, have been using the system, which is typically reserved for new parents and those with long-term illnesses.
The proxy voting system is designed to allow absent MPs to have their say on parliamentary matters. Caroline Nokes, chair of the Commons women and equalities committee, has raised concerns about the potential abuse of the system by those accused of wrongdoing.
David Warburton had the Tory whip withdrawn in April 2021 after being investigated by the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme.
Three women had made complaints about his conduct. Julian Knight, on the other hand, lost the Tory whip in December 2021 after being reported to the police.
The Solihull MP has denounced a “campaign of rumour and innuendo” against him but has also vowed to stay away from Parliament until the matter is resolved.
The Sunday Times reported that Warburton and Knight have been using Craig Mackinlay, the Tory MP for South Thanet, as their proxy. They have also provided a sick note to justify their use of the remote voting system.
Nokes warned against the abuse of the proxy vote system by those under investigation for wrongdoing. She stated that measures designed to assist MPs with health conditions should not be exploited by those under investigation.
In a statement to his local constituents last month, Warburton revealed that he had requested a proxy vote from Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
He hoped that the Speaker would allow him a proxy vote so that he could once again have a say in parliamentary matters. He expressed his eagerness to conclude investigations and resume his seat in the Commons.
Knight claimed that his proxy vote was based on certified medical issues, which were professionally attributed to conditions arising from a false and malicious allegation against him. He believes that the police investigation would be swiftly dropped if they interviewed him.
In conclusion, the revelation that two suspended Tory MPs have been voting via proxy has raised concerns about the potential abuse of the system.
Caroline Nokes warned against allowing those accused of wrongdoing to exploit measures designed to assist MPs with health conditions. The use of proxy voting by MPs under investigation raises ethical and legal questions about parliamentary integrity.
The situation underscores the need for transparency and accountability in the use of parliamentary procedures.
»Two suspended Tory MPs continue to vote in the House of Commons using proxies«
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