Lee Anderson, who voted in 2020 for the Recall of MPs (Change of Party Affiliation) Bill requiring MPs to call a by-election if they defect, has announced he will not trigger a by-election after defecting to Reform. Anderson justified his decision by highlighting the proximity of a general election in May and the financial implications of a by-election, stating it 'costs a fortune'. The bill, which Anderson supported, was aimed at enabling the recall of MPs who defect, with a view to holding a by-election in their constituency. This stance marks a significant shift from his previous position and has drawn attention due to the contrast with the actions of Douglas Carswell and Mark Reckless, who defected to Ukip in 2014 and triggered by-elections.
"It would be pretty reckless of me to suggest a by-election when we could have a general election in May... it costs a fortune" Lee Anderson tells @ChrisMasonBBC he won't trigger a by-election after defecting to Reform https://t.co/fioxRvb6Ga https://t.co/zulblxdnLj
Lee Anderson said that he won't be calling a by-election - unlike when Douglas Carswell and Mark Reckless defected to Ukip in 2014 https://t.co/mq7d65i0fh
👀 Lee Anderson voted *in favour* of a @AnthonyMangnal1's Recall of MPs (Change of Party Affiliation) Bill The Bill would have enabled the recall of defecting MPs, with a view to an eventual by-election in the constituency https://t.co/tfGhp14ZJj
In a ten minute rule bill in 2020 Lee Anderson voted in favour of an automatic recall petition for MPs who defect. I wonder if he still stands by his principles? https://t.co/NpWib8bszu
A very relevant motion presented to the Commons in 2020 proposed "any MP who voluntarily leaves the political party they represented upon their election to the House of Commons becomes subject to a recall petition" One of the backers of that big idea....? Lee Anderson 🧐
In 2020, Lee Anderson voted for the Recall of MPs (Change of Party Affiliation) Bill - which requires an MP to call a by-election if they defect. https://t.co/NxmjaCnuWK
Lee Anderson says he won't trigger a by-election after defecting. Lee Anderson backed the Recall of MPs (Change of Party Affiliation) Bill which would trigger a by-election after defecting. https://t.co/bJdi0g8sSC
Lee Anderson says he will not be calling a by-election: "It would be pretty reckless of me to suggest a by-election when we are going to have a general election" in the coming months
Lee Anderson tells @ChrisMasonBBC he won't be calling a by-election - big difference with when Douglas Carswell and Mark Reckless defected to Ukip in 2014
Given that @LeeAndersonMP_ backed and signrd my recall motion, stating that if MPs cross the floor to another political party I hope he is calling a by-election.