A debate, not a party line

Having said that I hope there'll be a debate on abortion at the Tory convention, I don't actually think the party has to take a position on the issue. I agree with Harper: this is a matter best settled by individual MPs voting their consciences. You take a stand as a party on the things you agree on. You leave the rest to MPs and their constituents. So I don't agree with the right, who are upset that the party might substitute a commitment to free votes in place of an overtly pro-life plank in the platform. And I don't agree with the left, who think that even allowing MPs to vote on it as individuals is somehow beyond the pale. The problem is not that the party refuses to take a stand, one way or the other. The problem is when the party refuses to take a stand and refuses to let anyone else do so either. Either there's a party line or there isn't. If there is, let the party debate it, and MPs should then be expected to fall in line with whatever the party decides. If there isn't, then let the debate happen in Parliament. And let MPs speak their minds. UPDATE: Somebody's had a bit of a rethink.