Conscience votes are something many members of Parliament struggle with as they seek to dance on the head of a pin around what they think and what may be palatable within the electorate they represent.
List MPs can always just toe a party line, if there is one, albeit thinly disguised as a conscience vote. We have seen enormous pressure put on MPs who have wanted to take a different line from their leaders in the past.
I cite conservative MPs in the Labour Party caucus who bore the brunt of heavy lobby-fire from the Liberal wing of the Labour Party led by then leader and Prime Minister Helen Clarke over issues such as civil unions and the Section 59 debate.
Conscience votes require MPs to exercise their conscience.
MPs should reflect who they are, and so their conscience vote should never come as a surprise. The challenge then is to allow the communities they represent to know them sufficiently so that there is no surprise when these votes are counted.
With a little bit of research any constituent would know that I am an ex-cop, ex-lawyer, provincially raised, rurally based, Presbyterian lay-preacher, who can be a bit rough "round the edges". Hopefully more "smart on crime" than tub-thumping "tough on crime" and fairly liberal, given that I represent the conservative National Party as well as the good folk of the Whanganui Electorate. My votes on conscience issues should reflect that; if not, I get the order of the boot next election.
This week four bills were pulled from the ballot for debate: gay marriage; $15 minimum wage; Monday-ising memorial days; and doubling maternity leave.
I disagree with doubling maternity leave to 26 weeks. It is expensive, and I believe the responsibility for raising children should fall on the mum and dad, albeit with financial support from the community if needs be. I note that in nine years in Government Labour never increased it.
I don't agree with a minimum wage of $15 at the moment, again because of cost and inflation. Minimum wage on a public holiday would require an employer to pay $52 per hour to cover the costs of employment for the day. Labour never addresses this issue when promoting a rise in the minimum wage.
I also don't agree that all memorial days should trigger the following Monday off if they fall on a weekend. Anzac Day commemorates the sacrifice of others. I did nothing to earn it, cause it, or help. Remembering that sacrifice is what is required, and I don't need a day off to do it.
My view is that marriage is an institution between a man and a woman. I have no problem with changing the law so committed homosexual couples' relationships have the same legal status as marriage, but call it something else. On the face of it, I won't be voting for the bill allowing marriage between members of the same sex.
I expect members of various political parties will smack me around a bit, but that comes with the job.
I love my job, recognise being your MP is a privilege and will never take it for granted. If people want to comment, email chester.borrows@parliament.govt.nz.