Rejected petition Abolish the whipping system in parliament

This petition proposes that the whipping system should be abolished in parliament and in place all MPs should be allowed a 'free vote' on all matters. MPs should be able to vote freely and not coerced into voting one way or another.

More details

The current system is broken as rather than MPs being able to truly vote on articles/legislation for the benefit of their constituency, they vote only as instructed. So, rather than having a system that allows constituents to vote for and appoint effective MPs, it's a system that only ensures that the ruling party maintains power over the House of Commons. Essentially the whip is undemocratic. Party unity should be established through shared understanding, not a fear of the whip being removed.

This petition was rejected

Why was this petition rejected?

It’s about something that the UK Government or Parliament is not directly responsible for.

Decisions about whipping are the responsibility of the political parties, and decisions about how to vote in the House of Commons are the responsibility of individual MPs, not the UK Government or Parliament as a whole.

We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.

Date submitted 11 November 2021
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