Nigel Farage stated today (BBC Today in Politics 1 March 2013) in response to UKIP pushing the Tories into third place in the Eastleigh by-election (result):
The UKIP vote was split by the Tories
Daniel Hannan (Conservative MEP) blogging on the Daily Telegraph (The Eurosceptic Right wins more than half the vote, the Europhile Left gets in with less than a third) urged the Tories and UKIP to come to a pact.
Between them, the two Centre-Right parties secured 53 per cent; yet the Lib Dems got in with 32 per cent. This is worse than the SDP/Labour split of the early 1980s. It is more like the Conservative/Reform split in Canada in the 1990s, a split that gifted the Left vast parliamentary majorities on a minority of the vote for over a decade.
Imagine Eastleigh being replicated in 100 constituencies at the 2015 general election. Or in just 50. Yet again, the first-past-the-post system would see an essentially Eurosceptic electorate return an essentially Euro-integrationist House of Commons.
Oh dear, what to do? Continue reading →
By enfranchiseme
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Posted in Alternative Vote (AV), Expression of Preferences, First Past The Post, Public Understanding, Split Vote avoidance, Uncategorized, Winner should win
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Also tagged AV, Conservatives, Daniel Hannan, Eastleigh, Electoral Pact, Nigel Farage, open primary, split votes, stitch-up, UKIP
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What do the results of:
- Mayoral Referenda earlier this year that rejected the concept of mayors in all places asked other than Bristol
- The Referendum yesterday in Hartlepool that voted to get rid of their elected mayor in favour of a committee system.
- The low turnout in the Police and Crime Commissioner elections yesterday (In Cleveland – where there have been problems with the Police Authority – it was a magnificent 14.7%)
have in common?
They all reflect a rejection of figure-head politics in favour of a representative politics. A rejection I welcome. Continue reading →
By enfranchiseme
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Posted in Being represented, United States Presidential System
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Also tagged Councillors, Councils, Mayoral Referenda, Mayors, MPs, Parliaments, PCC Elections, police and crime commissioners, police authority, police commissioners, politicising police, presidential system, representatives system
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Reading the comments on the 2010 Labour Leadership Election on the BBC Daily Politics message board I worry about the ability of some to understand AV (Alternative Vote). And the continued press and media comment does not fill me with confidence that all will be clear by the time of the referendum. Continue reading →
By enfranchiseme
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Posted in Alternative Vote (AV), Complexity, Expression of Preferences, Labour Leadership, Media Coverage, Presidential System, Public Understanding, Referendum Issues, Transferable Voting (STV), Winner should win
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Also tagged AV, labour leadership, preference, public understanding, spoilt votes, transferable voting
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From reporting of the results of the Labour Leadership election, I am forced to conclude that either the media is seriously lacking in intellectual capability, or they are trying to reflect an equally incompetent population. I hope it is not the latter – but to conclude that the media is so lacking, is not a comfortable conclusion either.
Continue reading →
So who wants AV (Alternative Vote) – this pathetic unloved low-fat wilted fig-leaf attempting to cover the embarrassment that is our first-past-the-post voting system?
- Not the Conservatives – they may be whipped to support the referendum bill as part of the coalition agreement but will campaign against change.
- Not the Liberal Democrats – they want STV – proper full-fat reform.
- Not the Labour Party – although it was in their manifesto.
- Not the Nationalists – because they object to the timing!
Continue reading →
Enfranchise me! 