We need principled independents MPs in Parliament

This is a guest post by Jim Thornton, of the Independent Network, a loose association that provides support to political candidates that are not members of traditional political parties or organised factions.

I do not know very much about Roger Gale, Conservative MP for Thanet, but he told the BBC: "We are in danger of creating a Parliament either of the very rich or those who think it's a vocation." In other words, being an MP is no different from being an insurance salesman or a refuse collector. Yet the MPs refer to each other as ‘Honourable Members' and the press and public most certainly expect higher standards from elected representatives than they do from ticket touts.

So after the recent expenses scandals it is hardly surprising that the public feel completely disillusioned with politics. The Glasgow by-election this month had an extremely low turnout of 33%. Using public money to buy duck houses and clean moats is so bizarre that the public have every right to be angry. But the problem is - what are we going to do about it?

I'm an Exec member for the Independent Network and we want to see a different sort of MP. Alongside the former Independent MP Martin Bell we have created the "Bell Principles". These provide a new code of conduct for those involved in public life, and we want to endorse and promote non-party or Independent candidates in the next election. These candidates will commit to maintain the spirit as well as the letter of these ten Bell Principles.

An MP arguably has two key roles; to represent and to govern. Principle 3 states that elected representatives should be free from the control of any political party, pressure group or whip. Our MPs must be able to think independently and be able to base decisions on considered evidence, their experience, their conscience and the preferences of their constituents. Party whips may implement the will of the Executive, but they are the demons of democracy.

We know from doorstep canvassing during elections that the public hate seeing politicians rubbishing each other. Principle 7 states that politicians should treat each other with respect and basic courtesy. Government is currently run on tribal loyalties, but there is no need for abuse. MPs should challenge their opponents when they disagree, but also agree with them when they make a good point.

It is rather strange that while 98.5% of the British population refuse to belong to a political party, there are only seven Independent MPs. The parties tell us that Independent representatives don't work, but this isn't true. There are over 2000 Independent councillors in England and Wales, along with 206 crossbench Peers and let us not forget that the former London Mayor, Ken Livingstone, was elected as an Independent. There is a desperate need for MPs who can stand up and shout that the Emperor Has No Clothes without being crushed by a party machine.

You may know of Stanley Milgram's experiments on the willingness of people in a large group to perform acts that are in conflict with their conscience. You may not know about his Experiment 17, which showed that when one or two people were willing to speak out, then the great majority would snap out of it, and change their behaviour. From In Search of Excellence onwards there is enough evidence to show that shared values can be significantly influenced for the better by a small minority.

The Bell Principles are the Independent Network's submission to Power 2010. What we want to see are more Independent MPs, speaking out to the party herds in Parliament, and urging each elected representative to listen to their consciences and their constituents. A new type of MP, a Bell Principled MP.

So we are looking for a new type of local Parliamentary Candidate for 2010 - we want to encourage everyday people to serve their community and stand for election. Interested? Please have a read and let us know what you think. 

THE BELL PRINCIPLES

We will

• abide wholeheartedly by the spirit and letter of the Seven Principles of Public Life set out by Lord Nolan in 1995: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership

• be guided by considered evidence, our real world experience and expertise, our constituencies and our consciences

• be free from the control of any political party, pressure group or whip

• be non-discriminatory, ethical and committed to pluralism.

• make decisions transparently and openly at every stage and level of the political process, enabling people to see how decisions are made and the evidence on which they are based

• listen, consulting our communities constantly and innovatively

• treat political opponents with courtesy and respect, challenging them when we believe they are wrong, and agreeing with them when we believe they are right

• resist abuses of power and patronage and promote democracy at every level

• work with other elected independents as a Group with a chosen spokesperson

• claim expenses, salaries and compensation openly so the public can judge the value for money of our activities.