No not the kind that go bang, the kind that politicians sign. There is some controversy in Belfast over the DUP’s insistence on candidates signing a contract which includes a pre-emptive signed letter of resignation and pre-agreement to potential fines of £20,000 for breaching party discipline.

Why would anyone want to vote for a contracturally agreed party line robot? Three line whips and such-like force politicians to abandon any pretence at independent thought. We need less party discipline and more free thinking from our politicians.