There is very little discussion of electoral reform in the media, and even less of it is any good.
I would prefer to have Alternative Vote or AV+ in a lower house, and PR (via STV) in an upper house. We should then implement fixed term government, and set the terms of the two houses so that one is elected halfway through the other's term. Finally, we should remove the ability of the lower house to ram bills through - all bills must be passed by the upper house, period.
This preserves the local element of the lower house - I still have a local MP with local concerns. But we have an upper house that is more policy-oriented, and views things from a national perspective. The best of both worlds.
Any other attempt at reform is just tweaking an already broken system, rather than fixing it.
Currently, I think that there will likely be a conservative minority government, with the permission of the Lib Dems. The Lib Dems shouldn't want to ally too closely. They may give their permission to a government, but not tie it around their neck like a millstone.
For example, the more pessimist predictions have said that public sector cuts will be so hard that whoever makes them may not be voted back in for a generation.
Who wants that poisoned chalice?
Far better to get the electoral changes, then promise to not object to the forming of a minority government (or to throw in with Labour). Then let the Tories get themselves hated, and try to turn that into seats in a future, fairer election.
Frankly, Tory policy is so biased towards the rich and the trivial that any Lib Dem policies are almost opposite. Forming a meaningful alliance seems doomed, so you may as well take what you can...
You raise a good point, and I suspect that there is a contingent in all parties who want "the other guys" to get in ;) For now ;)
Frankly, Tory policy is so biased towards the rich and the trivial that any Lib Dem policies are almost opposite. Forming a meaningful alliance seems doomed, so you may as well take what you can...
Hmm. When the Lib Dems and Conservatives share very similar policies/approaches in areas such as taxation, education and civil liberties, I'm not sure that your statement can be said to entirely hold true.
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I would prefer to have Alternative Vote or AV+ in a lower house, and PR (via STV) in an upper house.
We should then implement fixed term government, and set the terms of the two houses so that one is elected halfway through the other's term.
Finally, we should remove the ability of the lower house to ram bills through - all bills must be passed by the upper house, period.
This preserves the local element of the lower house - I still have a local MP with local concerns. But we have an upper house that is more policy-oriented, and views things from a national perspective.
The best of both worlds.
Any other attempt at reform is just tweaking an already broken system, rather than fixing it.
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The Lib Dems shouldn't want to ally too closely. They may give their permission to a government, but not tie it around their neck like a millstone.
For example, the more pessimist predictions have said that public sector cuts will be so hard that whoever makes them may not be voted back in for a generation.
Who wants that poisoned chalice?
Far better to get the electoral changes, then promise to not object to the forming of a minority government (or to throw in with Labour). Then let the Tories get themselves hated, and try to turn that into seats in a future, fairer election.
Frankly, Tory policy is so biased towards the rich and the trivial that any Lib Dem policies are almost opposite. Forming a meaningful alliance seems doomed, so you may as well take what you can...
Reply
Frankly, Tory policy is so biased towards the rich and the trivial that any Lib Dem policies are almost opposite. Forming a meaningful alliance seems doomed, so you may as well take what you can...
Hmm. When the Lib Dems and Conservatives share very similar policies/approaches in areas such as taxation, education and civil liberties, I'm not sure that your statement can be said to entirely hold true.
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