First Past The Post
Discussion
I think it is time the electoral system was changed.
The major problems as it stands at the moment, are that individual MPs do not have much accountability to their electorate if they are in a safe seat. This means that in the majority of constituencies the result is a foregone conclusion, and parties can parachute in the people they want with almost certainty that they will be elected.
I would like to see the following changes made:
Candidates should be selected by open primaries, with all voters eligible to take part. This would mean that the candidates already have a mandate. It matters not that opposition voters could take part, because parties would not put people up for selection they would not be happy to have as a candidate.
The voting system should be changed to STV. This would eliminate safe seats, and make all MPs accountable for their actions to the electorate. It would maintain the constituency link and move power from the political parties to the voters. It would allow strong majority governments to be elected and keep minority parties holding the balance of power. It would also reduce the possibility of implicit bias due to boundary issues.
I would like to see recall elections possible, where MPs could be forced to face re-election before the end of their term in office if their constituents demanded it.
The major problems as it stands at the moment, are that individual MPs do not have much accountability to their electorate if they are in a safe seat. This means that in the majority of constituencies the result is a foregone conclusion, and parties can parachute in the people they want with almost certainty that they will be elected.
I would like to see the following changes made:
Candidates should be selected by open primaries, with all voters eligible to take part. This would mean that the candidates already have a mandate. It matters not that opposition voters could take part, because parties would not put people up for selection they would not be happy to have as a candidate.
The voting system should be changed to STV. This would eliminate safe seats, and make all MPs accountable for their actions to the electorate. It would maintain the constituency link and move power from the political parties to the voters. It would allow strong majority governments to be elected and keep minority parties holding the balance of power. It would also reduce the possibility of implicit bias due to boundary issues.
I would like to see recall elections possible, where MPs could be forced to face re-election before the end of their term in office if their constituents demanded it.
clarksonisawilly said:
Is it time this was changed? It seems insane that the majority of voters can vote for other than the elected party but that result will stand?
Apologies if that makes little sense!
Better than the Greens/BNP/A.N Other Nutjob party holding the balance of power under PR. Apologies if that makes little sense!
I hate the UK system , I live in a "safe" seat area , this guy has claimed more expenses than most people earn in the area.
It would take more than tactical voting to remove this guy even though he claims to have repaid the money he should not have claimed in the first place.
I have no motivation to vote , we need a system so that every vote does count.
It is not a election we need its a revolution.
It would take more than tactical voting to remove this guy even though he claims to have repaid the money he should not have claimed in the first place.
I have no motivation to vote , we need a system so that every vote does count.
It is not a election we need its a revolution.
DPX said:
It is not a election we need its a revolution.
As far as I'm concerned, FPTP leads to strong governments who have the authority to follow through their policies. PR results in idiotic parties getting seats, as seen in the EU elections, who will never really have any impact either way, and a diminished level of authority, meaning that little legislation can be passed.
While I detest much of what Labour have done, I'm willing to support FPTF for the years that we have a government who have a real direction. The only thing that needs changing is how the Boundaries Commission operate.
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