edition.cnn.com
Stop worrying, democracy rules in elections, accept your fate it will never be as bad as the lies in The Grauniad Now slam some British beef in the oven, peel some Maris Pipers, and rustle up some Yorkshire puddings.
Because they made Brexit happen to kill off UKIP which then gave them an exclusive base of 40% of the population who will always vote for centre right parties.
There is an opportunity for the Lib Dems to peel off a lot of Tory voters if they can align themselves with the people who have been alienated by this Govts destruction of our liberties.
The centre left parties need to realise that they have to work together. i am in Fylde, Menzies has a job for life with first past the post and the opposition vote split 3 ways, then throw in the huge number of people who just don't vote because there is no point(that's me).
Gjr69, you write interesting and thoughtful stuff but I cannot let your 'no point in voting' comment pass. It is a civic duty that every adult should vote. I would make it compulsory.
If everyone who doesn't bother came out and voted, Menzies would be put of a job.
I think you might be right, people say it's a 'wasted' vote but it's that mindset that continues the fairly useless two party system.
I’d say the last decade particularly has shown how broken our options are?
And all they need for the British electorate to get on board is half arsedly promise some random individual tax cuts, be a bit vague about literally everything else and possibly get some Union Jacks in.
Genuinely no idea at all?
Thank you for the kind words 66. I think my disillusionment comes from the electoral system we have in place. I appreciate what you are saying but my vote in Fylde carries no weight whatsoever and I think a massive chunk of the population will feel the same no matter who holds the safe seat.
Maybe if we had a 2 horse race he would be but as long as Labour, Lib Democrats and Green all put up a candidate he knows he is as safe as houses. Unfortunately.
They need to fully exorcise the ghost of Corbyn who has damaged the party beyond belief...Starmer hasnt done that yet and looks a weak politician as a consequence... I think there are better options to get the labour party back on track but they need to cut out the looney left to move forward.
I've thought of that, but it's not like the parties see it, just some tired ballot worker who literally doesn't care less at 3am.
Exactly! I always say it to young people who say, "my vote counts for nothing." Spoil your ballot paper. Spoilt papers are always counted and declared at the count. Yes, some are people who get it wrong - even then, the returning officer will always try to let a vote count if it's obvious what was intended. But, at present, for those who want to complain about feeling disenfranchised, a spoilt papers is the way to announce it.
They'll never go for a 'none of the above' as a constitutional crisis could very quickly take effect if, as likely, that won.
Wouldn't that concentrate the minds of the Westminster village?! Wouldn't it? A turnout of 99% and no result? That would be magnificent. It would have to be investigated...a public (not Parliamentary or Govt) enquiry. It could lead to proportional representation, at least as a trial. Now that is democracy!
What happens in the meantime though? No government?
That's a very good question - no, not patronising. It does, however, raise questions about the dictatorship of Government: like it or lump it for 5 years then you get a vote.
but you are not centre left, you are extreme left so you've no chance..
Maybe it would be a good idea to start a new party and call it "None of the Above". I think it would walk the next election with no canvassing.
I agree massively in favour of PR but it does have it flaws UKIP a few years ago would have won many seats not none.
Only in your warped mind- voted lib dem in the last general election.
nothing warped about my mind. Some-one who has used the communist avatar and quoted extrenist antifa material might try to pretend in this facade of yours that you are a centre left but the truth which for reasons you would not like to come out is abundantly clear.
It's a proscribed name under the Representation of the People Act.
you are
You couldn't find anyone who is less of a UKIP voter than me but if PR gave them a load of seats so be it. The people who are into UKIP would have been listened to, the people that UKIP put into parliament would have been shown up for what they are, at the next election people would be more inclined to get out and vote to get rid of UKIP.
'Anyone Else?'
That, is an impressive fact to know.
So you want PR but only if it gives you the result you want ?
Not with the system we have now, 60% can vote across a good number of parties, the Torys maintain their solid 40% concentrated vote and with first past the post they win.
You've not read a word I wrote have you?
