After being in government for what feels like a thousand years the Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown is now pushing for electoral reform. Were we not told we would get this 12 years ago?
The proposal would mean something might happen in a year or two IF the Labour government is re-elected. Somebody tell me why I should believe any of this?
There have been twelve years of opportunity for the government to do something about our old fashioned and peculiar electoral system which allows a party to be in government even though they have get a fraction of the votes cast.
Success in a few crucial seats means that thousands of votes in other areas are a complete waste of time. electoral reform is a big step and it should have been something the government had been developing throughout their time in office.
To throw this idea out now as a carrot, in an attempt to gain some votes from the supporters of electoral reform is so cynical it makes me want to spit but this is very typical of the way our elections operate. With an almost closed shop of two main parties who swop places they don’t want to upset the apple cart because that could mean the voters get to decide who they really want instead of being lumbered with one of two choices they don’t want.
Yes, there are downsides to proportional representation too but at least voters can feel they do have a say in what happens at elections.
Mr Brown clearly doesn’t want that and everything points to the fact that he would rather not have an election at all. Unfortunately for him the law requires that we do have one. Thank goodness.
Finally the electorate will get the chance to say if they want Labour as a government, no you don’t really. All you can vote for is your own MP and who forms a government has little to do with your personal vote.
You have no say whatsoever as to whether Mr Brown should be Prime Minister or not. He can take us to war or he can reward all his banker friends while ignoring your financial plight but you have no say whatsoever as to whether he should be prime minister or not.
It’s better than dictatorship but what a rotten system this is for a country that claims to be the home of democracy.
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It was hilarious listening to Brown addressing IPPR, discussing how to make parliament more accountable.
If he really wanted to do that, then the place to start would be English Votes on English Laws, to prevent democratically unaccountable Scottish MPs voting on English matters that have nowt to do with them.
http://www.power2010.org.uk/votes/entry/english-votes-on-english-laws/
AV is just a fudge. Neither one thing or the other. If we’re not going to have proper PR then we may as well stick with FPTP.
I am surprised the ‘West Lothian Question’ hasn’t yet surfaced in this election. It is a very importan matter that really needs to be address. If we had a proper arrangement to deal with this issue Gordon Brown would not be able to vote in the house of commons on many issues which would be right and proper since his electoate are not affected by English issues.