No, I believe that the ‘fines’ were dropped after Joseph became leader.

Instead, they were replaced with the twisting of arms, intimidation and other ‘consequences’ known only to Labour’s inner circle.

Just ask Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and Adrian Vassallo, for starters.

“In the European Parliament the election of the President of the EP is held by a secret ballot”.

So is the election of our Members of Parliament. Thallatx il-hass mal-bass.

At one time in the past, MLP members in parliament had a huge monetary fine if they vote or go against the whip’s orders. Does this still exist?

For the simple reason that MPs are elected to represent us, so we have every right to know how they vote. That’s one of the basics of democracy.

So that each and every MP would be accountable to the voters who sent him to parliament.

1. So the Parties know who is toeing the Party line and who is not.
2. So that MPs can stand to be counted.
3. So that the constituents will be satisfied that their representative who they voted for under the political banner they choose, is indeed looking after their interests.
4. So the Parties can weed out the dissidents within their own ranks.
5. So that ‘transparency’ does not become an issue.

With secret ballots, why have Party Whips?
Ditto with ‘free votes’ whether truly free or Labour ‘free’.

There may be more reasons why secret votes should not be taken in Parliament but the above come to mind at this moment.

(Deep Breath) Because otherwise we the electorate would not know what/who we were voting for.

Without a track record of how an MP voted how do you know what he stood for and whether (s)he was representing you or her/his own interest?