MPs represent conscience or people? (1)

I fail to see how a free vote given to MPs can be reconciled with a referendum result. The members have already been given the chance, as ordinary citizens, to express their conscience during the referendum voting process. But when you decide to contest an election you are pledging to speak not for yourself, but for others.

The House of Representatives primarily exists to represent the people’s will. In effect, when there is a referendum, the MPs have no right to an expression of their individual opinions: they have to reflect the will of the electorate. An MP must realise that taking the decision to contest an election means that you are renouncing, in certain well-defined circumstances, the right to personal positions about a particular matter.

If their views do not coincide with the will of the people they represent, they may simply – and serenely – resign. No shame attached to that; they retain their personality and refuse to trade convictions for political requirements and constraints. But they cannot remain there, claiming to represent the people who elected them, and then vote against their will. If MPs fail to understand that, they have no idea of what constitutes democracy. And true democracy does not afford them the luxury of waiting for the people to punish them with their vote in later time. They must decide now: toe the line of the sovereign people or leave.