Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London, says it’s a new trend. “I can’t remember a time when this many people were cast adrift by their parties,” he said, though he wasn’t sure if it was due to more “maverick” MPs or stricter rules. Bale says it’s a way for leaders to “park the problem”, hoping they don’t seek re-election, and we may see more of it in the near future.
Evening StandardProfessor Bale was also quoted on Brexit in the Huffington Post, and referenced in pieces in the New Statesman (clipping available on request) and the Independent on the Conservative and Labour parties respectively.