ABSTRACT
The role of Parliament is very different from what it once was. Formerly its main function was to stop the Executive from interfering too much with the life of its subjects. The Executive is not by its nature a reliable guardian of personal liberty. As its power spreads the need for more adequate checks upon its innumerable activities grows. After the 1945 election the House of Commons contained three completely independent Members and a few others such as Mr Lipson who were not official candidates of their Party. All the Independents together with the Labour dissentients such as Pritt, Platt-Mills and Zilliacus were defeated in 1950. Since 1945 no Independent has been elected. Trade unions nominate candidates to the local Labour Party selection committees for certain seats. The candidate has usually given some hostages to local interests before the election. Regional Members represented this common feeling or common interest.
