MPs' expenses

[SeanMacGabhann]

you are contradicting yourself Louisa

But as to the question

"Yes and so what if people do vote extremist parties? That is the luxury and unfortunate nature of living in a parliamentary democracy, and in all honesty it is no more than the current political elite deserve."

It isn't the politicians who lose out I am worried about if extremists get voted in - it's what happens to people living in this country. I don't want to invoke Godwins Law but really, that line of logic is the sort of thing you hear before.... people like Him took power. And do you think the politicians who were in powere before Hit;ers rise getting a bloody nose was justified in light of what happened?

[Ted Max]

Have you printed any posters up yet, Louisa?

[Louisa]

Sean of course everyone loses out if a fringe/extremist party is elected, but are you suggesting we prevent people voting for such parties or indeed ban such parties? I do not quite understand how we could possibly do this without going against the rule of democracy. Yes many of the electorate take for gospel the word of the media elite and this can influence their decision at the ballot box, but thats just the way it is, people vote for a whole number of reasons and those reasons are not for anyone to judge.

The current political elite have been taking advantage of a corrupt system which in turn means that people naturally feel angry and wish to express their distaste by voting for other parties. Luckily in the UK we still have a plurality voting system at a General Election which means that the extremists are more often than not isolated, but I know that many people feel that this in itself is not democratic and should be reformed. Who knows, I just know I will be spoiling my ballot at the European and General Election.

TM my poster collection has grown, but I feel YouTube may be the only way for me to get the message across about horticultural vandalism.

Louisa.

[SeanMacGabhann]

When did I ever say ban?? I said people who voted for them were "prats". Which is a lame word.. but doesn't suggest any kind of ban. But I will say this - if anyone I know personally uses this to vote for any of these parties it's end of..

And calling people "elite" 57 times doesn't help your cause either. MPs of generations gone by were genuine elite. These days anyone from any class can get elected. You keep using "elite" as a negative - but by definition any group of people - be they political leaders, football team, office manager whatever are "elite". Are they all bad?

If you - yes YOU - vote extremist parties in at an election, those same people YOU voted for will be "elite"

[david_carnell]

BREAKING NEWS - John Bercow has been elected as the new Speaker of the House of Commons.

[barty]

When someone reassures me that we live in a democracy I remind them that, at the last election, our Government managed to acquire 55% of the seats in Parliament having polled 35% of the vote, and the party that finished third got 10% of the seats on 22% of the vote.

[Mick Mac]

david_carnell Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> BREAKING NEWS - John Bercow has been elected as

> the new Speaker of the House of Commons.

Having just seen him on the news David - he seems a right Twaat.

[david_carnell]

He's a very soft Tory.

He's young for the role of Speaker (at 46) and seems to have a good agenda. He has a rather odd manner about him that some take against. He is also loathed by factions of his own party who view him almost as the opposition.

I think he deserves a fair crack of the whip.

[Mick Mac]

Absolutley - just saw a clip - should not judge on first impressions. Funny manner though.

[matthew123]

barty Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> When someone reassures me that we live in a

> democracy I remind them that, at the last

> election, our Government managed to acquire 55% of

> the seats in Parliament having polled 35% of the

> vote, and the party that finished third got 10% of

> the seats on 22% of the vote.

Well the consequences of proportional-representation - like in the European elections - is that we'll end up with the likes of the BNP in Parliament. So the question I'd ask is should we stick with first-past-the-post Democracy *OR* run the risk of having coalition governments comprised of extreme parties (or at least end up giving extreme parties a bigger stage on which to preach such as the weekly Prime Minister's Question Time)?

[Huguenot]

AAAAAAAAAAh!!!!

Like it's a two horse race!!!

What, either first-past-the-post or PR?

Gimme Single Transferable Vote any time. Which isn't PR. Try this.

I don't agree with the study, but it's a good one.