ABSTRACT
The previous two chapters have emphasised the fact that Britain is a party democracy rather than a parliamentary democracy. That is, elections decide which party is to form the government rather than what individual is going to represent a constituency in Parliament. MPs get elected because of their commitment to a particular party (and its manifesto) rather than on their own merits. Once elected they are expected to vote either with the government or opposition, except on the rare occasions when their party does not take a position on an issue, or they are given leave to dissent on what the party managers define as an issue of conscience.
