tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post4403594722110325553..comments2024-01-23T16:53:02.428+00:00Comments on Mark Thompson: I, for one, welcome our new UKIP overlordsMark Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00744387583593537268noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-55831616733137615342012-12-04T19:37:06.962+00:002012-12-04T19:37:06.962+00:00I am not a natural Lib Dem voter but your stance o...I am not a natural Lib Dem voter but your stance on electoral reform is one of the few policies your party has the correct stance on. I once voted Lib Dem at a general election (2005). Every real democrat in this country should be appalled that a party can gain significant support (anything over 5% in my book) and yet fail to have that roughly reflected in their number of seats.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-53729505615948441822012-12-04T13:24:49.965+00:002012-12-04T13:24:49.965+00:00As a fellow Lib Dem I think this is an excellent p...As a fellow Lib Dem I think this is an excellent post raising an interesting issue - which I've been trying to get a bit of attention on for some time. Basically I think the Lib Dems need to build a coalition for electoral reform as the numbers of voters that moves away from the 2 big parties increases.<br /><br />The only place where I disagree is on the point about the Tories. I thnk (perhaps the clue is in the name!) that the Conservatives will be very slow to realise that the electoral advantage enjoyed by Labour means that it is logical for them to support electoral reform. I hope I'm wrong, of course.Arthur Snellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14009156677687166202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-72043565789112019102012-04-19T02:22:34.645+01:002012-04-19T02:22:34.645+01:00I think turnout is the bigger current issue in the...I think turnout is the bigger current issue in the argument for electoral reform.<br /><br />likelihood to vote is a big factor in the local elections this year, with turnouts expected to hit record lows - so extrapolating current polls to a hypothetical GE result is fairyland.<br /><br />then we shouldn't forget the number of candidates UKIP is putting forward is much lower than the major parties, giving many voters no option to put their X in that box. I also question their manifesto in these elections, which has no consistent or coherent message on local government. <br /><br />So I don't think they have very any chance of reaching anywhere near 10% across the country.<br /><br />And, with local councils discussing the potential for directly-elected mayors as the alternative to FPTP, I'm slightly more hesitant about the prospect of what electoral reform may mean in practice... be careful what you wish for!OPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-44107092994960256712012-04-18T11:05:39.039+01:002012-04-18T11:05:39.039+01:00An increase in the total vote share for the UKIP, ...An increase in the total vote share for the UKIP, Green Party and the Lib Dems will put pressure on FPTP. <br /><br />Another factor that will emphasise this effect will be the reduction in the number of MPs from 650 to 600. This will make FPTP even more disproportional, and therefore is more likely to produce an election result that is even more obviously unfair. <br /><br />Election reform may be back on the agenda sooner than many realise.<br /><br />A mathematical way of making FPTP more proportional is to increase the number of MPs several times over. For the UK I am guessing we would need 2000 or so MPs to have much effect. That would make the house more proportional, more democratic …more expensive (we’re gonna need a bigger house!)<br /><br />Direct Party and Representative Voting (DPR Voting) offers a more practical solution, and has answers to the problems that any referendum campaign for STV will encounter (see your blog ‘Outline of a No2STV campaign’, July 11 2011)Stephen Johnsonhttp://www.dprvoting.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-5026531607438421102012-04-17T23:13:14.800+01:002012-04-17T23:13:14.800+01:00Should say '8 solid Tory majorities'. Apo...Should say '8 solid Tory majorities'. Apologies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-41513940531711674512012-04-17T23:09:47.713+01:002012-04-17T23:09:47.713+01:00The last 18 GEs have yielded 5 Labour solid majori...The last 18 GEs have yielded 5 Labour solid majorities, 5 slim (5 seats or less) or 'negative' majorities, but 8 Tory majorities. I fear the Tories were right in their judgment that AV would hurt them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3881762807913180318.post-45359946536505174712012-04-17T15:46:40.145+01:002012-04-17T15:46:40.145+01:00..besides being a total load of rubbish..your losi.....besides being a total load of rubbish..your losing voters hand over fist you plonker..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com