CONSCIENCE AND CONSTITUENTS
SIR,—I hesitate to cross swords with Mr. Nigel Nicolson on the question of a Member of Parliament's duty, but his letter in your edition of November 30 surely calls for some com- ment.
Mr. Nicolson ought to know that an MP represents all his constituents and not merely his constituency party, or even those of his constituents who voted for him. His duty lies in representing his whole constituency, and, consequently, once a man is elected MP he should be fret to act in a manner which will, in his opinion, best serve the interests of his constituents and the country.
One of the saddest developments of our modern democracy is the growth of the party
machines at Westminster, with a correspond- ing decline in the independence and usefulness of the MP. It will be a sad day indeed if this generally accepted, but lamentable, party tyranny were to spread from Westminster to the constituencies. Should this occur—and there are disquieting signs that it is already developing—then our vaunted democracy will become the mere dictatorship of either the Conservative Central Office or Transport House.—Yours faithfully,
D. A. SCHOFIELD
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