By my reckoning, last Wednesday marked the first time that MPs have voted in favour of a bill to introduce proportional representation for elections to the Commons A symbolic turning point? bylinetimes.com/2024/12/10/b... - ThreadSky

josiah.writes.news • 91 days ago

By my reckoning, last Wednesday marked the first time that MPs have voted in favour of a bill to introduce proportional representation for elections to the Commons

A symbolic turning point?
https://bylinetimes.com/2024/12/10/britains-deeply-unfair-two-party-electoral-system-is-dying-and-mps-know-it/

Comments

mudskipper64.bsky.social•91 days ago

🙏 most of us want proportional representation

iebathrugby.bsky.social•91 days ago

Be careful what you wish for in these turbulent times. We aren't ready for PR I'm afraid rush into it and get a Government that no one wants - very dangerous in my opinion.

gatecrasher777.bsky.social•90 days ago

Without PR, we are going to get a far-right government on ~30% of the votes cast. At least with PR, you need 50% plus.

iebathrugby.bsky.social•89 days ago

The far rights increase of vote share in France & Germany is around 32% currently (these Countries have a lot of Democratic parties to counter it) the UK could swing Right very easy with a coalition of Tory & Reform around 50%. I'm not an expert but both systems won't guarantee a safe outcome.

gatecrasher777.bsky.social•89 days ago

If 50% plus vote Tory and/or Reform there can be no complaint about an undemocratic outcome.

But if in 2029 Reform get a majority of the seats in the HoC on ~30% of the vote (very possible under FPTP) the rejection of PR, despite public and party support, will sit very heavily on this government.

pensionerdave.bsky.social•90 days ago

In New Zealand they have a form of PR. The result is that there is a coalition led by the National Party (bunch of sad conservatives so bad they would not get into the UK party, ACT (like idiots) and NZ First ( geriatric reactionaries). BUT at least it reflects the political will of the people.

aotearoacraig.bsky.social•91 days ago

Writing from New Zealand, I’ll say proportional voting has its pluses and minuses, but definitely allows minority voices which were previously ignored to be heard and taken seriously.
Minuses include the fact you get coalition govts that literally no one voted for, and sometimes tails wag dogs.

greentony12.bsky.social•90 days ago

We have it in Ireland and it leads to steady politics here.

pineapplelump.bsky.social•91 days ago

But at least it’s better than getting an all-powerful single-party govt that a minority voted for.

bettinastruff.bsky.social•91 days ago

Starmer will never agree to PR while he thinks he can win another election under FPTP.

Party before country all the way.

gilberttabby.bsky.social•91 days ago

A good step towards a more robust democracy!

disarraynova.bsky.social•91 days ago

Let’s hope so, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that PR might be the only way to stop Reform at the next election. If the Tories and Reform look like splitting the RW vote again Starmer won’t budge, if one is going to take the lion’s share he really ought to reconsider.

sachigo.bsky.social•91 days ago

in the U.S. it is kaputt …
so maybe yes

bellfieldboy1960.bsky.social•91 days ago

Starmer will never allow this to come to pass. His win comes off the back of an outdated and skewed FPTP electoral system that locks in a two party system. Pluralism isn’t in the character of any of the two parties and Blair with three electoral wins in a row never brought it about. Turkeys and Xmas

zetkin.bsky.social•91 days ago

I sure hope so

historylecturer.bsky.social•91 days ago

My take on this is that the political world thought "Well, it at least provided competent, stable government." But since 2025 it conspicuously has not.

paulleach53.bsky.social•91 days ago

It will make no difference because neither of the major parties will ever want it except when they are in opposition

janpelorat.bsky.social•91 days ago

A PR elected "House of Representatives" might be a start, replacing the Lords. Two birds, one stone.

candiceg.bsky.social•91 days ago

I am pro PR but I am concerned that Reform are looking to use this as their way in.

tjrh.uk•91 days ago

They're in already.

candiceg.bsky.social•91 days ago

Even more in…

gatecrasher777.bsky.social•90 days ago

In your table, PR List which should be directly proportional to votes cast, put Greens (83 seats with 6.7% of votes) ahead of the Libdems (78 seats with 12.2% of votes).

Is there a reason for that?

josiah.writes.news•91 days ago

🔴 ‘Britain’s Deeply Unfair Two-Party Electoral System is Dying and MPs Know It’

Startling new research reveals that this year’s General Election was the ‘most disproportionate ever’ with millions of votes wasted
https://bylinetimes.com/2024/12/10/britains-deeply-unfair-two-party-electoral-system-is-dying-and-mps-know-it/

gilberttabby.bsky.social•91 days ago

Introduce compulsory voting for more representative governance.

ecogreentoday.bsky.social•91 days ago

How will compulsory voting result in more representative governance? If I have a choice of Labour/Tory/LibDem/Reform (for example) I will spoil the ballot paper.

gilberttabby.bsky.social•91 days ago

By engaging the populace, more people are forced to have a stake in the issues affecting them. In Australia, the 'donkey vote' averages 2 to 3%. When multiple South American states repealed compulsory voting, it bolstered the right wing parties.

ecogreentoday.bsky.social•90 days ago

So you are forcing people to vote even if they do not support any of the candidates/political parties! That is not democracy.

gilberttabby.bsky.social•90 days ago

Yes it is. Just ask the Athenians.

paulleach53.bsky.social•91 days ago

With what kind of sanctions for non compliance?
A fine?
Followed by a bailiff or gaol time if not paid?

gilberttabby.bsky.social•91 days ago

Yes. We do all that here in Australia. Haven't heard of anyone going to prison though. So does NZ. It's a system that largely works.

paulleach53.bsky.social•91 days ago

but it is possible if you dont pay the fine?
and it doesnt really produce stable government, does it

gilberttabby.bsky.social•91 days ago

R u kidding? Australia is one of the most stable democracies in the world. It's so stable it's boring!

countrywol.bsky.social•91 days ago

Strange how Fr Farage needs the electorate to give him the legitimacy he craves, in order to foment his revolution. I imagine he treats irony as a foreign concept to be deported to Rwanda.

mission2civilise.bsky.social•91 days ago

this will restore faith and trust into British politics. And also be a system initiating bi-partisan dialogue and coalition. It would be a massive achievement for Labour

paulleach53.bsky.social•91 days ago

It would be a disaster for either of the big parties and not much better for the small ones.
Would people vote green if it wasn't a protest vote?
How about ind candidates?

mission2civilise.bsky.social•91 days ago

well of course that’s one of the arguments against. But the cons are overwhelming, a sweeping Labour majority was gained with less votes than they received in total when they lost the last election. How palatable is that ?

paulleach53.bsky.social•91 days ago

It isn't a perfect system, but neither is PR
What is the point in a system where you don't know who your MP is until the party decides who will represent you?
We used it for the EU, how many people could name there MEP?

mission2civilise.bsky.social•91 days ago

PRs pros outweigh those of FPTP

- PR increases voter participation, its fairer, as every vote counts
- the electorate get a voice in government avoiding dissent & frustration festering into violent protest
- bipartisanship and parties working together becomes an inherent part of daily government

mercedezroberge.bsky.social•75 days ago

Quebec, Canada: Étude en PDF pour téléchargement : https://bit.ly/pdf-2022etprécédentes-s-indigner-remplacer-systèmeélectoral
Étude en WORD pour téléchargemenhttps://bit.ly/word-2022etprécédentes-s-indigner-remplacer-systèmeélectoraloral (pour accéder plus facilement aux données)

mercedezroberge.bsky.social•75 days ago

J'ai rédigé le même type de rapport pour le Québec "Élections québécoises de 2022 et précédentes : s’indigner et remplacer le système électoral".
#sindigneretremplacerlesystemeelectoral
#democratie #polqc #assnat #modedescrutin

thefatfryer.bsky.social•91 days ago

It’s symbolic because the governing party who won using the last system won’t change it.

whobiggs.bsky.social•91 days ago

But Starmer doesn't want it 🤔

resurjamtrev-exx.bsky.social•91 days ago

Our current PM doesn’t like PR despite Labour’s conference decision. But then I struggle to come up with the name of any senior socialist who does. It’s all about party power and bugger the electorate!

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