As a post-script to the Natalie Elphicke defection story.
Earlier this week there was a vote on a bill going through Parliament to suspend MP's accused of serious violent or sexual offences.
The bill was to address issues of serious wrong doing in the House of Commons, improve the culture around the place as a result, but most importantly to safeguard victims.
The bill was introduced by the leader of the house, Penny Mordaunt, based on recommendations from the House of Commons Commission. Currently party whips decide if and when an MP accused of an offence should be prevented from attending the parliamentary estate. The new plans mean that a panel, including senior MP's, will conduct a risk assessment when the Clerk of the House is informed by police that an MP has been arrested, and then the MP will be suspended from the grounds and building, though not sacked as an MP, nor prevented by voting by proxy.
Recently however, under pressure from right wing Conservative back benchers, Mordaunt brought forward a motion to water down the bill. The government wanted to amend the bill so that the threshold for the MP to be brought before the panel was when the Police charge an MP with an offence. The Conservative's argument centered on the unfairness on MP's who are often the subject of vexatious accusations, so they thought the bar should be once the MP was actually charged.
Labour MP Jess Philips and Lib Dem MP Wendy Chamberlain tabled an amendment to restore the bar to arrest. Their counter argument was that the bar is quite high just for the police to arrest someone, but the most important point was to safeguard accusers and thousands of staff. If the bar is when someone is charged, since less than 1% of cases result in charges actually being brought, accusers would most likely think 'what's the point?'
The Labour/Lib Dem amendment was passed in a 170-169 vote. So by just one vote.
It was a free vote, however the breakdown of the 169 who voted No was
1 Lib Dem
2 Independents (Andrew Bridgen, Bob Stewart)
166 Conservatives (including Mordaunt, Steve Baker, Miriam Cates, Brendan Clarke-Smith, James Cleverly, Therese Coffey, Dehenna Davison, David Davis, Michelle Donelan, IDS, Tobias Ellwood, Liam Fox, Mark Francois, Peter Gibson, Jonathan Gullis, Greg Hands, Mark Harper, Bernard Jenkins, Robert Jenrick, Daniel Kawczyski, Gillian Keegan, Esther McVey, John Redwood, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Grant Schapps, Matt Vickers, Gavin Williamson and Jacob Young).
Those who voted Yes
1 Alba
1 Alliance
Caroline Lucas
Diane Abbott
11 Lib Dems
2 Plaid Cymru
21 SNP
1 SDLP
George Galloway
8 Conservatives (Theresa May, Laura Farris (Safeguarding Minister), Caroline Mokes, Elliot Coburn, Jason McCartney, Luke Hall, Justin Tomlinson and Theresa Villiers (one of those suspended for trying to pressure Charlie Elphicke's judge)
and 121 Labour MP's.
But, included in those 121 MP's, even though she has not attended the weekly Labour meeting, is Natalie Elphicke.
That's right, Natalie Elphicke was the difference in getting this passed. No way would she have voted for this a few years ago when her former husband when he was accused.