Lib Dem MP to vote in Labour Deputy Contest

The Lib Dem Mp for Birmingham Yardley, John Hemming, has posted on his blog about how he has now received his ballot papers for the Labour Party's Deputy Leadership election. He is you see a member of the Musician's Union (and presumably pays political levy) so he gets a vote. Lib Dem Voice are even trying to organise a block vote with their one vote.

This is though a rather bizarre situation isn't it? For a start, as Bob Piper pointed out in the comments, if this Lib Dem MP has a vote it means that he is actually helping to fund the Labour Party presumably through political levy. Worryingly, Hemming's response to this was to say "I wasn't aware I was funding Labour. Clearly I need to check the small print."

This is worrying on two levels. Firstly, the implication that a Lib Dem MP doesn't realise that being a member Union may mean you fund the Labour Party, and second that the Musician's Union may not be making opt-out from political levy clear enough.

The other concern of course is an ethical one. Yes, Hemming is a member of the Union, and clearly the Labour Party thinks he is entitled to a vote, but would it really be ethical for him to do it? Fair enough, the weight of his vote alone isn't likely to effect the outcome, but as an MP from another political party it is a bit weird isn't it?

I realise as well that Lib Dem Voice are only playing around and making light of the "block vote of one" idea. But again it leaves an ethical question hanging around. Of course, the Labour Party is, frankly, stupid to dish out multiple votes to people and allow for such a bizarre abortion of a democratic process to take place, but their stupidity ought not negate the actions of a Lib Dem MP, right?