I've never really understood the concept of 'free votes' in parliament. The idea is that on issues of conscience, such as assisted dying or abortion time limits, MPs do not have to follow the party whip. Instead, they can vote as they wish, sometimes guided by their religious faith.
Yet how different really is, say, a vote to raise employer national insurance contributions or scrap the two-child limit for Universal Credit? Sure, these are fiscal choices, but they can equally be guided by questions of ideology and morality. More often than not, I suspect free votes are granted because party leaders are worried they will not be able to force their MPs into the 'right' lobby.
