Politicians have set a bad precedent. There is an increasing trend of politicians switching parties after being elected to Parliament.
This is not only a betrayal of the voters who put their faith in these politicians and their parties but also undermines the principles of democracy and the stability of our political system.
Politics is a team sport and political parties are the vehicles through which ideas and policies are debated, developed, and put into action.
It is therefore imperative that every politician upholds the policies of their party. Parties provide a framework for collaboration, compromise, and collective decisionmaking, and they offer a clear choice to voters at election time.
When politicians defect from one party to another, they are essentially sending a signal that their own interests are more important than the interests of the voters who elected them and the principles of their party.
This breaches trust and erodes the integrity of our political system and damages public confidence in our democratic institutions.
I urge all politicians to be loyal to the parties that took them to Parliament. If they have fundamental disagreements with their party’s policies or direction, they should have the courage to openly debate and challenge them from within the party ranks, instead of abandoning their party altogether. If they feel they can no longer work within their party, they should resign and seek reelection under a different banner.
Loyalty to one’s party is an essential part of our political culture and politicians who betray that loyalty undermine the very foundations of our democracy. I call on all political leaders to take a stand on this issue and make it clear that they will not tolerate such behaviour in their ranks.
