What’s your view of electoral reform?
Tuesday 2nd February 2010, 8:00AM GMT.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown briefed the Cabinet today on planned constitutional changes which could see the first-past-the-post voting system ditched for Westminster elections.
In a speech later today, Mr Brown will confirm that MPs are to be asked to vote on whether a referendum should be held soon after the general election on a switch to the Alternative Vote system, under which voters rank candidates in order of preference.
The Prime Minister will say that the change could form part of a “new politics” modernising Britain’s constitutional settlement as the country approaches the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta in 2015.
- What’s your view of the voting system? Tell us in the comment box below
He has asked Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell to codify the unwritten conventions which govern the way central Government operates, while a separate group will look at the case for a written constitution.
Meanwhile, the creator of the worldwide web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, has already been asked to look at means of making more Government data available to citizens through the internet.
Mr Brown told Cabinet today that his proposals for voting reform formed part of a commitment to constitutional change stretching back to the start of the Labour administration and taking in devolution, freedom of information and House of Lords reform.
He is expected to say in his speech that he wants constitutional changes to “return power to the people” with the opportunity to participate more in politics through new technology.
Mr Brown has already committed Labour to holding a referendum on the Alternative Vote system early in the next Parliament.
But his support for voting reform has been dismissed as a “deathbed conversion” by Liberal Democrats, who say that the AV system would not deliver the proportional representation regard as essential.
Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said: “If this is confirmed, then it is a deathbed conversion to electoral reform from a party facing a historic defeat, which is why scepticism is warranted.
“The Alternative Vote is a small step in the right direction, but it is not a proportional system.”
l What do you think of Britain’s voting system? Have your say at www.shropshirestar.com
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Brown will do ANYTHING to stay in power, the sooner this lot of 2nd raters go the better for the country. He is unelected by his party , and the country, enough said.
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The current system isn’t perfect, but ‘it’s the best we’ve got’ – end of story, apparently, no need to consider the matter any further – although the flip to the adage of if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it surely is, if it is broke, do fix it!
The first past the post system is far away from democratic – strictly speaking your vote doesn’t count unless you’re in a marginal seat – my vote for example may be worth all of yours put together.
Party politics also is undemocratic – for example I may wish for a right wing, laissez-faire approach on the economy, but a left wing approach on education – my vote becomes conflicted. Party politics also is seen to fail repeatedly – hence us voting in the other lot ad infinitum – yet we carry on with it because ‘it’s the best we’ve got’.
So, yes to electoral reform, yes to proportional representation…but as to what really needs to happen, well do you honestly think we’d get to vote on something that important?
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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.
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I don’t know enough to understand what if any benefits there would be from reform. It does puzzle me as to why the tories need at least 10% more votes than labour to achieve a majority. That doesn’t seem right. What annoys me more than anything though is that traitorous individuals like Anjem Choudray will enjoy THEIR democratic right to vote, but despite all the mealy mouthed codswallop from the MOD and government, service personnel in Afghanistan and elsewhere will find it almost bloomin’ impossible to cast their votes because no-one is willing to accept that the present system is too inflexible to meet their needs.
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This is a must.
This year when the Tories get in it will be with a minority vote as it has been for many elections now.
I am more concerned that there is no difference in either the Tory or Labour Policies these days.
Dick Mint what are you on about?
His party did elect him.
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Now can we hear from the Conservative Party on either on the Alternative Vote,Proportional Representation before the next election and their views on this before the next Shropshire Council Elections.
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He/they have had 13 years to alter the present system and each time it has been raised they have ducked and dived to get out of doing anything, now though, with an election on the way Brown is suddenly eager to change things. Surprisingly, the Fib Lems are also against what he proposes, saying that the changes don’t go far enough, another opportunist gang wanting to change a system that safely consigns them to the sidelines were they rightfully belong. If Brown has got anything to do with these proposals, examine them with a microscope because he was taught by Blair.
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Dicky Mint,
When did you ever vote for a prime minister? Unless you lived in Sedgefield, Huntingdon or Finchley over the last 30 years or so I doubt if you have. We vote for MPs, not Prime Ministers. Many other Prime Ministers have been put into office without a general election taking place, including John Major, Jim Callaghan, and even Winston Churchill.
The current government was elected under our current democratic system, and as with every other government has the right to serve its full term, change of leader or not.
I think the least you can do is to understand our current electoral system before commenting on any possible change to it!
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“Brown will do ANYTHING to stay in power, the sooner this lot of 2nd raters go the better for the country. He is unelected by his party , and the country, enough said.”
Or I suppose you could have read the story, how is holding a referendum AFTER the next election a ploy to stay in power?
I’ll await your detailed explanation on how it help him to stay in power with baited breath.
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sorry, it is tinkering at the edges. 215 mp’s are resigning in may. none of them should be replaced and in 5 years time no scottish welsh or northern ireland seats need be filled in parliament. this will leave about 250 seats representing england in a new purpose built parliament and an elected second chamber of say 100 members. all provided in birmigham with i bedroom flats for those living 15 or more miles away.
the present houses of parliament can be become a giant tourist attraction and any house of lords retainers say about 20 can be employed as guides.
the new houses of english parliaments with automatic computorised vote counting will save the country billions of pounds. no more divisions where voting takes up to 40 minutes.
all mp’s will have a full time job in parliament, no second jobs, and will be on call from 9.30-13.30 and 14.30- 18.00. this will sort out those who want to serve their constituents and country.
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Stuart,
You’ll see from the article that there would only be a referendum after the next general election – so it’s difficult to see how this would affect the outcome.
I haved mixed feelings on the matter. I believe any form of proportional representation would result in a hung parliament every time, and we all know how ineffective they can be.
On the other hand, if it were known that a hung parliament was all that was ever going to be on offer, perhaps politicians might begin to work together and co=operate in a hitherto unseen fashion.
Ironically, though, the improvement in democracy might also let in a few elected representatives from undemocratic and extremist parties…you really can’t win!
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it wont make any differnce
though i agree our current first past the post is out of date and unfair and should go
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Agree with Peter you really cannot win!
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Electoral Reform should begin with the introduction of a voting qualification.
Only those of sufficient standing should be entitled to vote. This could be based on,
Educational attainment.
Social Standing.
Finacal.
It simply cannot be right that some ner’do well without employment, qualifications or making a financial contribution to society should be able to vote. Or if allowed to vote that their vote should carry the same weight as others.
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