Forum Topic

Mayoral and London assembly elections - FPTP

I see the gov has decided to switch both of these elections (not this year) to first past the post :(So goodbye to any green, ukip, smaller parties etc. Just straight fights between Tory and Labour, endless circles etc....Another disaster for representationhttps://www.standard.co.uk/news/mayor/london-mayor-election-first-past-the-post-system-b924534.html

Matt Palmer ● 1525d13 Comments

Or perhaps more recent Richard:"We do have an elective dictatorship. I myself used to believe in the mysteries of the British Constitution. My experience over the last ten to twelve years, like many people, has caused me to change my mind quite fundamentally on that.”John Smith, responding after his Charter 88 speech ‘For a Citizens Democracy’, 1 March 1993https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/john-smith-and-path-britain-did-not-take/

Ed Robinson ● 1525d

Blair should be in prison, no doubt about it.

Matt Palmer ● 1525d

"I cannot remember Blair being as bad as BoJo.."Well Yvonne we have Yemen now I guess. But we must not forget the kidnappings, rendition flights, torture and yes the millions of lives ruined and the dead  - is there even a figure there are so many!But besides the above you can't really fault him.It is strange how the guy that helped exposed most of that is in a UK jail solitary confinement I believe - which is of course a form or torture.  https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jun/01/mi5-chief-right-to-be-disgusted-over-mi6-role-rendition-blair

Ed Robinson ● 1525d

Hello Ed,Every system has its flaws, I am sure that in Switzerland some people do not like direct democracy.  But in the case of the UK, parliamentary democracy is being ignored by the government, which is very bad news indeed.  Accountability, what is it and where is it?I cannot remember Blair being as bad as BoJo and co.  I know, the war with Iraq was horrific and Dr David Kelly's death.I am not too sure that the main parties are trying to outdo each other at the moment, particularly as the Tories have such a big majority.  They have become dictators unfortunately.  As you said in another post, anocracy?

Ivonne Holliday ● 1525d

"some people refer to it as a four year elective dictatorship!"And it's not new! Lord Hailsham referred in 1976 (and earlier) to our system of government as an "elective dictatorship" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elective_dictatorship).

Richard Carter ● 1525d

Ivonne Parliamentary sovereignty has always had its flaws. This time it is Boris last time it was Blair. In both cases it wasn't just the majority but the main parties trying to out do each other on how tough they were on everything from crime to dictators!I guess that's why some people refer to it as a four year elective dictatorship!

Ed Robinson ● 1525d

The UK govt currently contains 20 unelected ministers; Lord Frost – Brexit Baroness Evans – Cabinet Office Lord Agnew – Cabinet Office & Treasury Lord True – Cabinet Office Lord Callanan – Business Lord Grimstone – Business & Transport Baroness Barran – DCMS Baroness Berridge – Education & Trade Lord Gardiner – Environment Lord Goldsmith – Environment & Foreign Office Baroness Vere – Transport Baroness Stedman-Scott – Work and Pensions Lord Bethell – Health and Social Care Lord Ahmad – Foreign Office Baroness Williams – Home Office Lord Greenhalgh – Home Office & Communities Baroness Goldie – Defence Lord Wolfson – Justice Lord Stewart – Advocate General for Scotland Baroness Evans – Lords
I say "Not in my name!" (Or anyone else's)

Sean Hodges ● 1525d

Ivonne. I wouldn't disagree with that idealised idea of Parliament. However , we have a prime minister surrounded by a cabinet of mainly "yes, sir, I agree, sir" non entities and a majority of MPs who seem to think their career is furthered by following the PM most of the time. I'm not saying I like or agree with the situation, so I'm just being realistic about it. Unfortunately, we also have a main opposition party trying to recover from internal disagreements in the face of a MSM that's mainly hostile to it

Michael Ixer ● 1525d

Hello Michael,Well, my idea that Parliament was sovereign was that matters are discussed and Parliament decides.Whatever a party's manifesto says, it does not mean that it is decided - is it not a wish list to start with?The fact that Parliament has a Tory majority does not mean to say they can omit discussion in Parliament!  That they do this is another matter and one of very dubious basis. Hence, the past tense in my first paragraph.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1525d

Ivonne. Parliament is sovereign in terms of making this decision - and was before Brexit! I believe this was slipped into the Tory manifesto before the Dec 19 election. So they can claim to have a mandate for it given the size of the Tory majority; and, just think, people thought Mr Corbyn was anti democratic. I suppose the House of Lords could reject the legislation but unlikely ...

Michael Ixer ● 1525d

What disappointing news - and the wholly partisan nature of the decision is openly revealed in this para:"There has been no announcement of changing the much more complicated system used to elect members of the London Assembly, perhaps because switching that to FPP would benefit Labour."Patel is shameless!

Richard Carter ● 1525d

Hello Matt,This morning we seem to have a lot of depressing news!First, the GP practices in Fulham being taken over by american insurance companies (yes, lower case american!)Then both your messages!!  One question, can the government decide just like so to change the voting system of the mayor of London (or all the mayors of the country for that matter).As for democracy retreating, it is desperately sad but very true.  Our current government is the embodiment of it. The problem is that we, as the people of the country, accept it lying down.  Horrific!!!

Ivonne Holliday ● 1525d

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab will on Wednesday warn that democracy around the world is “in retreat"Insert raised eyebrow emoji here.

Matt Palmer ● 1525d