Comments on: More Parliament less spin. http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/14/more-parliament-less-spin/ Incisive and topical campaigns and commentary on today's issues and tomorrow's problems Thu, 24 May 2012 17:19:46 +0000 hourly 1 By: SJB http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/14/more-parliament-less-spin/#comment-14199 SJB Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:58:11 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3387#comment-14199 In Germany a party must receive a minimum 5% share of the vote to win representation in the legislature. Therefore, small extremist parties are excluded. Applied in the UK, it might let UKIP voters achieve a voice in Parliament but deny the BNP. PR is used in German national elections. Turnout in recent years has been 75%+; pre-unification the figure was around 90%. Contrast that with UK national elections under FPTP: 2001=59.4%; 2005=61.3%. In Germany a party must receive a minimum 5% share of the vote to win representation in the legislature. Therefore, small extremist parties are excluded. Applied in the UK, it might let UKIP voters achieve a voice in Parliament but deny the BNP.

PR is used in German national elections. Turnout in recent years has been 75%+; pre-unification the figure was around 90%. Contrast that with UK national elections under FPTP: 2001=59.4%; 2005=61.3%.

]]> By: Denis Cooper http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/14/more-parliament-less-spin/#comment-14198 Denis Cooper Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:00:25 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3387#comment-14198 Quite apart from withdrawal from the EU and denunciation of the ECHR, both of which are indispensable, I could easily list eight internal reform measures which I believe would dramatically improve representative democracy, while retaining first-past-the-post elections for the House of Commons. However they would all need the agreement of a House of Commons elected under first-past-the-post, and neither a Labour nor a Conservative majority would vote them through. Quite apart from withdrawal from the EU and denunciation of the ECHR, both of which are indispensable, I could easily list eight internal reform measures which I believe would dramatically improve representative democracy, while retaining first-past-the-post elections for the House of Commons. However they would all need the agreement of a House of Commons elected under first-past-the-post, and neither a Labour nor a Conservative majority would vote them through.

]]> By: B Griffiths http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/14/more-parliament-less-spin/#comment-14197 B Griffiths Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:49:48 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3387#comment-14197 It’s difficult now to avoid the growing sense that the British Labour Party is on the cusp of one of its periodic three-term peregrinations to the political wilderness. If an all-consuming economic cataclysm, which, if Brown didn’t exactly create, he certainly didn’t anticipate, and a still lingering anger over Iraq wasn’t enough, then the latest glimpse into the dark heart of New-Labour’s smear machine, will almost certainly consign them to as long a spell in dismal Opposition as the Tories have just endured. It’s difficult now to avoid the growing sense that the British Labour Party is on the cusp of one of its periodic three-term peregrinations to the political wilderness. If an all-consuming economic cataclysm, which, if Brown didn’t exactly create, he certainly didn’t anticipate, and a still lingering anger over Iraq wasn’t enough, then the latest glimpse into the dark heart of New-Labour’s smear machine, will almost certainly consign them to as long a spell in dismal Opposition as the Tories have just endured.

]]> By: SJB http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/14/more-parliament-less-spin/#comment-14196 SJB Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:49:40 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3387#comment-14196 In the course of repairing Parliament perhaps consider changing the electoral system. First-Past-the-Post worked when about 95% of voters chose either one of the two main parties - but now a substantial number of voters have no voice in Parliament. For example: UKIP (although I think an MP elected as a Tory defected), Green Party, BNP. Even if the Conservatives win a majority of seats at the next general election it seems likely that once again the government will not have the majority of the share of the vote. Also, remove the need to swear an oath of allegiance to the Monarch. If someone has won an election it hardly reflects well on Parliament to deny them their seat. Finally, I am at a loss as to why MPs did not make more of a fuss over the Damian Green incident because of the constitutional implications. Also, a few weeks ago, I read in the Mail on Sunday about a MP pressured to reveal information about a constituent to a ... WPC! If MPs will not uphold their own privileges then you can hardly be surprised if some people think that Parliament is not worth the candle. Reply: PR encourages people to set up extreme parties which cannot win, and leads to even lower turnout as local and EU elections have shown. In the course of repairing Parliament perhaps consider changing the electoral system. First-Past-the-Post worked when about 95% of voters chose either one of the two main parties – but now a substantial number of voters have no voice in Parliament. For example: UKIP (although I think an MP elected as a Tory defected), Green Party, BNP.

Even if the Conservatives win a majority of seats at the next general election it seems likely that once again the government will not have the majority of the share of the vote.

Also, remove the need to swear an oath of allegiance to the Monarch. If someone has won an election it hardly reflects well on Parliament to deny them their seat.

Finally, I am at a loss as to why MPs did not make more of a fuss over the Damian Green incident because of the constitutional implications. Also, a few weeks ago, I read in the Mail on Sunday about a MP pressured to reveal information about a constituent to a … WPC! If MPs will not uphold their own privileges then you can hardly be surprised if some people think that Parliament is not worth the candle.

Reply: PR encourages people to set up extreme parties which cannot win, and leads to even lower turnout as local and EU elections have shown.

]]> By: alan jutson http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/14/more-parliament-less-spin/#comment-14195 alan jutson Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:05:06 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3387#comment-14195 John Good to hear your views. Please keep up the good work and try to push your ideas forward to those who can change the system for the better. If the system does not reflect the peoples will for more Democracy and open Government, then UK PLC will be the looser in the end. John
Good to hear your views.
Please keep up the good work and try to push your ideas forward to those who can change the system for the better.
If the system does not reflect the peoples will for more Democracy and open Government, then UK PLC will be the looser in the end.

]]> By: alan jutson http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/14/more-parliament-less-spin/#comment-14194 alan jutson Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:00:11 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3387#comment-14194 Michael Agreed !!!!!!1 Michael
Agreed !!!!!!1

]]> By: alan jutson http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/14/more-parliament-less-spin/#comment-14193 alan jutson Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:58:29 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3387#comment-14193 Exactly the point I have made a number of times. But it would appear that he has the support of the majority in Parliament according to JR. I can only assume it is all of the Labour MP's. Exactly the point I have made a number of times.
But it would appear that he has the support of the majority in Parliament according to JR.
I can only assume it is all of the Labour MP’s.

]]> By: Downsized Pete http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/14/more-parliament-less-spin/#comment-14192 Downsized Pete Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:54:04 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3387#comment-14192 "Reinstate twice weekly PM’s Questions." Good point, but it would be an improvement to see Mr Brown turn up regularly for the weekly PMQs. I suspect that he will take any opportunity to avoid this as his performances always seem wooden and a bit shifty. A simple suggestion would be for Mr Cameron to attend all PMQs whether the Prime Minister is there or not. This would highlight the Tory commitment to putting Parliament back at the centre of political life whilst exposing this evasive and dupilicitous PM (or his hapless deputy) for what they really are. “Reinstate twice weekly PM’s Questions.”

Good point, but it would be an improvement to see Mr Brown turn up regularly for the weekly PMQs. I suspect that he will take any opportunity to avoid this as his performances always seem wooden and a bit shifty. A simple suggestion would be for Mr Cameron to attend all PMQs whether the Prime Minister is there or not. This would highlight the Tory commitment to putting Parliament back at the centre of political life whilst exposing this evasive and dupilicitous PM (or his hapless deputy) for what they really are.

]]> By: Michael Taylor http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/14/more-parliament-less-spin/#comment-14191 Michael Taylor Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:14:26 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3387#comment-14191 Very right Mr Tomkinson. As feudalism degenerated into bastard-feudalism, so our democracy has degenerated into bastard-democracy. As various people have written before, Mr Cameron does not have the option of being an 'ok' Prime Minister, he needs to be a great Prime Minister if he is to avoid complete disaster. Trouble is, I'm not sure the evidence is there that he really sees how sick the political system has become. What happens after his first government, if he aims for just 'ok' is horrible to contemplate. Very right Mr Tomkinson. As feudalism degenerated into bastard-feudalism, so our democracy has degenerated into bastard-democracy. As various people have written before, Mr Cameron does not have the option of being an ‘ok’ Prime Minister, he needs to be a great Prime Minister if he is to avoid complete disaster.

Trouble is, I’m not sure the evidence is there that he really sees how sick the political system has become. What happens after his first government, if he aims for just ‘ok’ is horrible to contemplate.

]]> By: Freddy http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/04/14/more-parliament-less-spin/#comment-14190 Freddy Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:59:45 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=3387#comment-14190 Kevin, thanks. For the avoidance of doubt, I really hope you're right. Kevin, thanks. For the avoidance of doubt, I really hope you’re right.

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