How do you create a poll on this forum????

Only rarely do polls tell anything other than the bias of that tiny minority that voted.

There have not been polls here for years ...

The recent UK GE poll told us that the voters, considered as a whole and who voted, wanted nothing to do with one party and wanted a partnership of at least two. This must lead to the public choosing or not something akin to PR, given the interests of the junior partner.

This may please or annoy you according to whether you would like to see PR, or something like it ...

ATB from George

According to recent polls, most polls don't achieve anything.

I wanted Opinions on Political Reform i.e.PR,just to see what the consensus would be! nothing to do with Hi Fi

So my off-tangent reply was quite good really!

ATB from George

PS: I want PR or the single transferable vote also. Never again do I want one party leader have complete freedom to dictate for five years. Moderation in all things, I say!

quote:

Never again do I want one party leader have complete freedom to dictate for five years. Moderation in all things, I say!

Dear George,
The problem with this view is that with three weak parties trying to govern, nothing will ever get done. Because everyone is vulnerable no one will put there neck on the line. This makes for very ineffective government and certainly this environment neuters leaders from ever standing out as or becoming strong leaders.

Best Regards,
Doug

Dear Doug,

To be honest we have had IMHO far too much strong [and misguided] government over the last few decades.

These over-powerful governments reflected the votes of often little more than a third of the electorate. I hope that the Liberals manage to get a referendum on proportional representation or the single transferable vote, so that never again can a single party get a majority of seats in the Commons on a minority of the votes cast in the election.

I much prefer the idea that Mr Cameron cannot manage what Mrs Thatcher was able to, and bulldoze legislation based on her own ideology but supported by a minority of voters. Same for Mr Brown and before him Mr Blair. Both inflicted IMHO deep damage on Britain without the mandate - at least if one accepts the results of PR or STV as being a better representation of the electorate's wish - that would have legitimized it. Of course they did correctly govern within the confines of our current first past the post system, and so we have no business complaining about the system or these governments unless we also try to reform it!

I think the Cameron-Clegg administration may just potentially be the most significant and reforming government since 1950.

I sincerely hope so!

At least this administration was elected in its constituent parts by a majority of the electorate. I don't think anyone voting as part of a minority of electors should expect to have the manifesto of the party they choose implemented without modification by other parties selected by other voters who cast their votes other ways.

Thus the Labour Party or the Tory Party could never form a government without coalition with less than fifty percent of the votes.

With party vote whipping in the House Of Commons the Prime Minister and government as a whole are given far too much freedom to administer in an unaccountable fashion between elections. With two parties in coalition then the back-benchers must be kept in the consideration. Thus in our present new administration, if some loopy right wing policy is proposed will be checked by the Liberal element, and if some daft left wing proposal were presented, then Tory back benchers will check it in its tracks! This will restore the value of the back-benchers as a check on the Executive members [ministers] of the government. Neither the Liberals or the Tories can hope to continue in power unless the almost the whole body of their respective back-benchers are considered.

It is just my view, but I am very tired of the Executive taking their position for granted [with a majority in the Commons] between elections. The politicians will have to learn to moderate their ambitions and work together for the greater good of the country and with less partisan polical interests at heart. It is managed well in other European countries. Surely in the UK we are sensible enough to do it as well they do in modern Germany for example.

ATB from George

I agree, anything that prevents both extreme right and left wing policies being implemented is a major plus. I suspect a lot of people agree with certain policies put forward by all three parties.

Not all labour voters are disappointed that Cameron is prime minister. My wife said.

“The one good thing about Cameron becoming Prime Minister, is I will be able watch that smarmy bastard age 10 years in 18 months”