Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Public backs voting reform
The public is strongly in favour of getting rid of the current way of electing MPs and replacing it with a more representative system, a poll conducted by ICM for the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust shows. Of those questioned, five support reform for every one opposed.
ICM asked people to say if they agreed or disagreed with the following proposal: This country should adopt a new voting system that would give parties seats in parliament in proportion to their share of the votes - 60% agreed and 12% disagreed.
On the proposal that: Elections for local authorities should use a new voting system that would give parties seats on local councils in proportion to their share of the vote - 62% agreed and 10% disagreed.
On the proposal that: A referendum should be held on changing the system we use to elect MPs - 56% agreed and 13% disagreed. [Over 2000 people were questioned]
Commenting on the ICM poll results, Cllr.John Beanse, Chair of Chingford & Woodford Green Liberal Democrats said:
"People want a fairer system of voting. They want a Parliament AND a local council which accurately reflect the balance of public opinion. We need more voter choice and a system which means that votes really count.
It is time to drag our flawed democracy, kicking and screaming if necessary, into the 21st.century. Let us hope that in 2007 both so-called "New" Labour and the self-styled, supposedly modernising Conservatives will wake up to the longstanding call of the Liberal Democrats - AND of the British prople - on this vital matter.
It is high time that we had a democracy of which we can all be proud and which at last fairly represents the British people."
ICM asked people to say if they agreed or disagreed with the following proposal: This country should adopt a new voting system that would give parties seats in parliament in proportion to their share of the votes - 60% agreed and 12% disagreed.
On the proposal that: Elections for local authorities should use a new voting system that would give parties seats on local councils in proportion to their share of the vote - 62% agreed and 10% disagreed.
On the proposal that: A referendum should be held on changing the system we use to elect MPs - 56% agreed and 13% disagreed. [Over 2000 people were questioned]
Commenting on the ICM poll results, Cllr.John Beanse, Chair of Chingford & Woodford Green Liberal Democrats said:
"People want a fairer system of voting. They want a Parliament AND a local council which accurately reflect the balance of public opinion. We need more voter choice and a system which means that votes really count.
It is time to drag our flawed democracy, kicking and screaming if necessary, into the 21st.century. Let us hope that in 2007 both so-called "New" Labour and the self-styled, supposedly modernising Conservatives will wake up to the longstanding call of the Liberal Democrats - AND of the British prople - on this vital matter.
It is high time that we had a democracy of which we can all be proud and which at last fairly represents the British people."
# posted by John Beanse @ 6:16 PM 
Comments:
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Another piece of vacuous political bilge, that addresses the symptoms and not the problem, proposes a solution that will not work and will create a whole bunch more troubles. That just about sums up UK politics, including the LibDems [no offence, you understand, you’re just blinded by party dogma]. The pollsters are asking the wrong questions because they are sponsored and paid for by politicians.
What we need are some BRAKES. We need a CONSTITUTION that spells out the role and responsibilities [and most importantly LIMITS] of government and its relationship with the people it is there to SERVE. “Trust the people” who increasingly don’t vote whatever the voting system – its lower when we have PR than when we have FPTP. Why? Because the choice we want is not on offer. We know that whoever gets elected will still be mindless control freaks, meddle in every detail of our lives and tax the pants off us.
What I want is a government that sets us free, lets us stand or fall on our two feet. That repeals unnecessary legislation and bureaucracy and doesn’t create any more, ie reverses the vicious circle of a bulging state machine that will eventually collapse under its own weight.
What we need are some BRAKES. We need a CONSTITUTION that spells out the role and responsibilities [and most importantly LIMITS] of government and its relationship with the people it is there to SERVE. “Trust the people” who increasingly don’t vote whatever the voting system – its lower when we have PR than when we have FPTP. Why? Because the choice we want is not on offer. We know that whoever gets elected will still be mindless control freaks, meddle in every detail of our lives and tax the pants off us.
What I want is a government that sets us free, lets us stand or fall on our two feet. That repeals unnecessary legislation and bureaucracy and doesn’t create any more, ie reverses the vicious circle of a bulging state machine that will eventually collapse under its own weight.
This is not some minor matter or a question of dogma. For example, in the last General Election, the Government received the support of only about 35% of the VOTERS and in fact of less than 25% of the population as a whole. Yet they received a majority in the Commons over all the other parties put together. This is not some minor discrepancy but a huge distortion of the will of the people which requires urgent reform.
# posted by 
: 10:09 AM
: 10:09 AM
So, do you want a system where a minority, possibly extremist, party can hold the balance of power and exercise a level of "influence" even more in excess of its electoral support?
Then there's the tendency for "compromise" situations to produce "extreme" rather than "moderate" solutions. Bay of Pigs is the example usually used in the classroom.
Wanna comment?
Is your "solution" any better than what we've got now, and why, and how will it work?
Then there's the tendency for "compromise" situations to produce "extreme" rather than "moderate" solutions. Bay of Pigs is the example usually used in the classroom.
Wanna comment?
Is your "solution" any better than what we've got now, and why, and how will it work?
Full information on voting reform, electoral systems, partnership government, etc can be found on websites such as www.electoral-reform.org.uk or www.makevotescount.org.uk
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# posted by : 9:03 AM
: 9:03 AM << Home
