Principled and unprincipled defections

I have no issue with politicians changing parties, on a matter of principle. Most famously Winston Churchill is thought to have said “Anyone can rat, but it takes a certain amount of ingenuity to re-rat.” in reference to leaving the Conservatives to the Liberals in 1904 and then back to the Conservatives in 1924.

Few would doubt Tariana Turia left Labour on a matter of principle. The recent defection of Meka Whaitiri to the Māori Party seemed to be more about not getting back into Cabinet than any matter of principle.

The Herald reports:

Former National MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar will stand for Act in the coming election and will contest the Pakuranga electorate in Auckland where she lives.

Parmar, who spent two terms in Parliament with National, has made the move after she was unsuccessful in securing the candidacy for Upper Harbour, Maungakiekie or Mt Roskill – with National.

To swap to another party just weeks or months after you have three times tried to be selected for National, doesn’t suggest it is an issue of principle.