Dear Sir,

The critical question is whether or not Shawn Crockwell and Mark Pettingill would win an election in their constituency if they campaigned against another candidate from their same party on a plank that said they would bring down their stated party if there was a vote of no confidence — and they had disagreements with the party direction.

The answer to this question is the true answer to the question: should they resign from Parliament and force a by-election before voting in a no-confidence motion?

If they did resign and there was a by-election, they could run as independents if they truly wish to legitimately represent the wishes of the voters in their constituency.

If they win that by-election against a candidate who holds an opposing view in the plank stated above, then and only then do they have the right, as duly-elected independents, to vote against the sitting government in a vote of no confidence.

STREETWALKER