Proportional representation

The subject of PR and alternative electoral systems has been discussed many times.

As some will already know, I am strongly in favour of changing our present 'first past the post' system to some form of PR, as the former undoubtedly benefits the 'two main parties'. We have all seen the pendulum swing back and forth between right and left, neither side being capable of working together for the common good. Rather, the usual thing is to pour scorn on what the previous party did and resolve to undo everything.

I for one am sick and tired of it as it achieves nothing. Although some of us have been pressing for reform for a long time, unsurprisingly neither party in power has ever thought about introducing an alternative.

Until now!

https://www.change.org/p/david-camer...m_medium=email

For some unfathomable reason - nothing to do with Labour's performance in the latest elections, I'm sure! - some Labour supporters are now pushing for PR.

I wish them well!

Re: Proportional representation

I would go a step further.
It is ridiculous that in this day and age people still cling to 'I am left' or 'I am right' and are blinded to to the merits or otherwise of individual politician just because they serve under the banner of one party .

You only have to look at some of the posts on here to see people spouting venom and bitterness because of their extreme party prejudice . I find it all very outdated and rather childish.

I would rather there were no parties at all just individuals 'independent' MPs. Each area would have a number of candidates and they would put forward their individual manifestos . Once elected those with specialist interests (education/health/ foreign office etc) would put their names forward and be elected by their peers as Ministers for a particular speciality .

This way hopefully, MPs would be more likely to put forward propositions to benefit the population as a whole rather than towing any part line.

Something as radical as this is unlikely ever to happen likewise PR because you would be asking turkeys to vote for christmas.

Re: Proportional representation

Hi

Totally agree.

Re: Proportional representation

We even held a referedum on it a couple of years back, but was rejected by the electorate because the only offer was the basic form of PR. Had Cameron expanded the choice to STV I think the vote would possibly have been somewhat different.

Re: Proportional representation

Two good posts. it's so annoying listening to the main parties squabbling constantly and blaming each other for the Country's problems.

You would think in this day and age, we could have A party that would concentrate on the well being and prosperity of Britain and if we had PR we would have got that at the last general election with UKIP.

Re: Proportional representation

That is exactly the form of PR that I should like us to have.

I think the problem of MPs being obliged to 'toe the party line' stems from the situation that political parties pay for their nominated candidates to stand for election. If there weren't any political parties (which I agree might be a good thing), the question arises who would pay for candidates to stand? I suppose some independents already do pay for themselves (I assume), but what happens if they can't afford to do that?

Edit:
Upon reflection, I'm not sure how well this would work. It is possible that local candidates might still be seen as 'right wing' or 'left wing' according to what they say in their manifestos. Some may say, disparagingly, that "so and so is just another damned Tory", for example!

Re: Proportional representation

Hi

I think that our present Party system is broken, people no longer have faith in their politicians.

Independents?

Paid for out of Public Funds, it isn't going to cost a fortune and infinitely better than Political Parties being beholden to their backers, be they big business or Unions.

Re: Proportional representation

Indeed. Four million votes should have managed to elect a damned sight more than ONE MP!

That's the main reason I want PR. Not just to provide more UKIP MPs, but in an attempt to make everybody's vote count.

For example, in my local area, it is either the Tory or the Limp Dem who 'gets lucky'. The local Labour candidate (and of course the UKIP candidate) don't get a look in, despite their receiving a good proportion of the votes.

It could be argued that my local UKIP candidate might not be elected anyway, but if the total number of UKIP votes nationally resulted in an appropriate proportion of UKIP MPs, at least the party I support would be fairly represented in parliament.

But then we're getting back to party politics, which isn't exactly what Meg was proposing!

Re: Proportional representation

But wouldn't that encourage everyone and his son to stand? How much would the public purse be prepared to shell out in any given constituency?

Re: Proportional representation

So are the nations which have PR already benefiting from more 'enlightened' politics?

I would suggest not....all it does is cause more squabbling between the many different parties vying for their ideas to be the ones adopted, and leads to weak government with frequent elections and no clear mandate to change anything.

What do those who live in countries which use PR think?