I talk about this endlessly in my book....how our current electoral system is NOT fit for purpose @petergeoghegan.bsky.social explains more re donations Jeez Labour...tighten up these horrors.... - ThreadSky

carolvorders.bsky.social • 150 days ago

I talk about this endlessly in my book....how our current electoral system is NOT fit for purpose

@petergeoghegan.bsky.social explains more re donations

Jeez Labour...tighten up these horrors....

Reposted from Peter Geoghegan

NEW 🚨 Britain's electoral laws are broken - but successive governments have done nothing

Musk's proposed $100million donation to Nigel Farage shows we are on the cusp of a real crisis for British democracy

But it can be fixed. Here's how, by me

democracyforsale.substack.com/p/musks-100m...

Comments

fliprekrap.bsky.social•150 days ago

Protect our electoral system and fix the uk media problem.

oneandonlydan.bsky.social•149 days ago

hey i have mad a petition to see if we can take down musk 🚨 https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/707227/sponsors/new?token=RbRdQF6HRCKeCsfB6sm3 #OnlineSafety #SocialMediaAccountability #politics #UK #Musk

baron-of-navan.bsky.social•149 days ago

The trouble is Labour are for Just as for sale just as Reform and Torys .
Look who Funds Wes , no conflict of intrest there eh

datatruthfinder.bsky.social•149 days ago

This is almost like Mvsk paying for votes! At least 4m people will be please about this but has potential to pull more into their net. They are going to be a real threat to the Cons in the coming months if this is allowed to carry on…

timeout123.bsky.social•140 days ago

If PR had been in place at the last election, Reform would have got 100 seats. Neither main parties would have had a majority. Likely outcome, a coalition between reform and conservatives. Be careful of what you wish for.

https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/how-the-2024-election-could-have-looked-with-proportional-representation/

photoline.bsky.social•150 days ago

Pursue and prosecute the perps.

sandnesharry.bsky.social•149 days ago

Musk's proposed $100million donation to Nigel Farage shows we are on the cusp of a real crisis for British democracy
---
He wants corruption to be the rule that will lead to fascism if not stopped.

johnthescot.bsky.social•150 days ago

I have seen bigger nuts on a mouse than what Starmer has. It's going to be 5 years of nothingness.

methodicalmadness.bsky.social•150 days ago

Labour has a 156 seat majority. They could pass any law or constitutional reform they want. They could signal the beginning of the end of this threat tomorrow. I truly hope they do, but the direction of their government thus far suggests they won't. They're still playing by the old rules.

baron-of-navan.bsky.social•149 days ago

They wont they are just a grubby

joshfwd.bsky.social•150 days ago

Yep. Well, let’s try and make them see it.

moorecustard.bsky.social•150 days ago

I bloody hope so!!

romylangford.bsky.social•150 days ago

I am very worried. We soon could have a Fascist leader like 🇺🇸.Vulgarity, corruption,fraud,waste,racism,misogyny xenophobia, Tories/mates enrichment the norm& Billionaire Oligarchs.
Meanwhile LW commentariat are griping abt details & perfection.
The Titanic is SINKING! Stop worrying abt deckchairs!

cram61.bsky.social•149 days ago

I don't know what your solution is because I haven't read the book. However, I would suggest Proportional Representation.

romanyflower.bsky.social•150 days ago

Starmer is terrified of the populist right. Everything he does is to appease them. The far right juggernaut is on the move and I think we have dark days ahead.

willshome.bsky.social•150 days ago

"Not fit for purpose" signals a facile, lazy framing Carol, whenever it's used, by anyone. It's a way of feeling in the right without doing the hard thinking.

Our current electoral system has been constructed by history over centuries.

So now what?

Hard sums.

ala8.bsky.social•149 days ago

Keep it first past the post then, at least Farage won't get in power 👍

michellemallin.bsky.social•150 days ago

As an accounting student one of the top values and lessons was to never be put in a position where there were conflicts of interest or accepting gifts which could be construed as bribes. Labour failed that within days/weeks of governing, whether properly declared or not. It looks really bad.

michellemallin.bsky.social•150 days ago

So, if they’re going to do anything to make changes to the rules re donations, they best get on with it asap AND make sure that they too follow those rules. Foreign interference in our elections be it by huge donations or tampering with our election systems needs to be fully outlawed.

ronviveur.bsky.social•150 days ago

Deliberately scuppered opportunity to address this in 2023. Must be fixed.

Government defeats move to tighten UK foreign donations law https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/may/03/government-defeats-move-to-tighten-uk-foreign-donations-law?CMP=share_btn_url

bloodangel-owens.bsky.social•150 days ago

Farage will only spend it on cigarettes and wine

yorkieboi.bsky.social•149 days ago

#DefundX

cheshiredoglady.bsky.social•150 days ago

We're sleep walking into a dystopia. The fabric of democracy is stretched to breaking point.

stephencole.bsky.social•149 days ago

Time to rid this country of Putin’s 5th columnist Farage.

Please sign.
https://chng.it/tMttNRt8dz

villainygroup.bsky.social•149 days ago

Is Farage going to buy an especially big rock to crawl under?

mistercoupe.bsky.social•150 days ago

He’ll just blow it all on fags, beer and Union Jack shoes.

slappingkarma.bsky.social•150 days ago

Every political party in the UK needs to tighten up these horrors. End of the day, it's just not British to have these holes beneath the waterline in the mother of parliaments.

https://euvsdisinfo.eu/

sfmonitor.bsky.social•149 days ago

The electoral system is definitely not fit for purpose, but its flaws are exacerbated by a media owned and controlled in the interest of the few. That media will also corrupt any post-reform system.
That is a MUCH bigger problem than fptp.

mkt1882.bsky.social•150 days ago

Now's the time, they've got to grasp the nettle and get it done.

stooo.bsky.social•150 days ago

It's opening the doors to more victimhood from these twats when they get caught breaking the rules again.

hastingssteve.bsky.social•149 days ago

Seeing how NF stoked up violence during August, he certainly is a very deep concern for peaceful politics and democracy, and Musk was to blame as well. Not good... 🤔

archbishcranmer.bsky.social•149 days ago

How did he? What did he say that wasn’t true? Get a grip you massive nincompoop.

hastingssteve.bsky.social•149 days ago

funkym217.bsky.social•149 days ago

While there is Breath in my Body, I swear before Lonelygirl15, Jeff Minter and myself, that the Dishonourable Member for Clacton will NEVER rule this sceptred land. I will keep its claws from all our throats, BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. Don't at me.

mcchouffe.bsky.social•150 days ago

The electoral system needs to be free from interference like Musks, Putins, Trumps etc.
A side note on Farage is that it's shocking how he openly incited his race riots (others jailed 4 less) His election campaign was openly full of horrendous illegal Islamophobic xenophobic & racist anti-LGBTQ hate

slappingkarma.bsky.social•150 days ago

Yes there should be a solemn oath and undertaking for any public elected role that that person will uphold the laws of the country meaningfully and truly as part of their campaign and whilst in office. Should there be a required change, that should be raise in the democratic arena not the press

savvy14.bsky.social•150 days ago

If Musk gives that GRIFTER a 100million, no one will see his arse again, he'll be gone with the loot.

johnkelly.co.uk•150 days ago

Might be worth it

ala8.bsky.social•149 days ago

The last thing we need in our country is Reform getting in power

jamesanthony83.bsky.social•150 days ago

This is frightening

colin-hepher.bsky.social•149 days ago

Please don’t let the UK go the way that recently seen in the US!
Concerned Aussie watching from the sidelines.

littlebit-me.bsky.social•149 days ago

He will win the nxt election
Probably within 5 years
Why?
Not because he SHOULD win
But because neither the current government nor our media want to stop him
They platform him
Ignore his ramblings
Refuse to challenge him in any meaningful way, or tackle any of the legitimate concerns his voters have

williamhumphrey.bsky.social•150 days ago

Scary or what ?

"Acording to the Times, Musk’s goal could be to help Farage become prime minister."

kittydeeoz.bsky.social•149 days ago

This is truly frightening. Musk is totally out of control!

digby-uk.bsky.social•150 days ago

I like the 3 main proposals about political donations
1. Zero donations through companies
2. Limit of £10,000 for personal donations
3. Independent Electoral Commission, and tougher reporting requirements.

Unfortunately, the greed to retain power by any UKGov is blind to the threat of Musk, et al.

feenp.bsky.social•150 days ago

I believe Reform is not a political party, it's a limited company.
As such does this bypass the rules?

bluesprints.bsky.social•149 days ago

Holyrood elections use PR
Senedd elections use PR
Stormont elections use PR

Only Westminster doesn't use PR. Why not?

We, the people, of 3 out of the 4 countries which make up the UK are entirely comfortable with and understand PR voting.
What is Westminster/England afraid of?

inshado.bsky.social•149 days ago

Please start a petition to limit donations Carol. Farage will be the next PM unless something is done.

moorecustard.bsky.social•150 days ago

So this is stage 2 (or maybe 3 or 4) of Elon Musk buying the world. He wants to be ruler of the world. It’s absolutely terrifying and needs to stop now!

moorecustard.bsky.social•150 days ago

Wtaf is this true? Please tell me this is not happening.

richardhughson.bsky.social•149 days ago

@carolvorderman.bsky.social I would bin the Houses of Parliament. Build a modern representative parliament like other democracies have. Turn the HOP into a museum. It's no longer fit for purpose.

ronmanager.bsky.social•149 days ago

@jessphillipsmp.bsky.social Hi Jess - do Labour plan to do anything about this?

keepinfairlieweird.bsky.social•150 days ago

I think you are expecting an awful lot from a Labour Party who have retreated from sorting out the House of Lords.once they got elected They will now sit on their hands about foreign donations as well.
Red Tories gonna tory.

darklordofbarnet.bsky.social•150 days ago

This is definitely worrying...

spacehippieface.bsky.social•150 days ago

Can somebody PLEASE launch Musk into the sun? He's gone far beyond being weird and annoying and is now insufferable.

fartypantsmcgee.bsky.social•150 days ago

Mars. Send him to Mars. Or the planet at the end of Don't Look Up.

itsjohnmartin.bsky.social•150 days ago

All we have is the illusion of a meaningful democracy. If we aren’t serious about democracy we will lose what little we have. If nobody champions the cause. Nobody will feel that it is worth fighting for.

greensleeves.bsky.social•150 days ago

The laws on treason need to be re-written. Currently treason only applies to doing deliberate harm to the Crown.The law needs to be changed so that treason covers those who do deliberate harm to the UK & its people. The new legislation could also ensure lying politicians receive custodial sentences.

spen01.bsky.social•150 days ago

The weird thing is that supposedly politicians work for us and I’m not sure many people are happy with the whole donations system; as it is massively open to corruption

heathercs.bsky.social•149 days ago

Pretty sure that foreign nationals aren’t allowed to donate to UK political parties

yorkieboi.bsky.social•149 days ago

Musk may procure that X Corp establish a UK registered subsidiary and channel the donation that way. Not bothered to read into the detailed Electoral law but where there's a will there's always a way.

anita62.bsky.social•150 days ago

Can’t you make them listen @carolvorderman.bsky.social

sixesalltheway.bsky.social•150 days ago

Proportional Representation for the UK (and US) is vital for healthy democracy. I would encourage everyone to read up on PR and the various formats of PR. The Open Party List form is the most common system of electing a government (~100 nations) and used by the robust Scandinavian democracies.

blodwyn5.bsky.social•149 days ago

Let's pray that he does a major cock up before the next election and the People of Clacton kick him out and there's a code of conduct introduced that he is never able to run as a Politician again.

biffbean.bsky.social•150 days ago

Maybe one for the Lib Dems to propose 🤔

kulam.bsky.social•150 days ago

Our system is a faux democracy, it’s owned and run by elites, privileged and corporations. We live in a corporate fascist state.

princessindigo.bsky.social•150 days ago

We are seriously fucked if this is true It will will turn this country upside down No other party or politician will be able to come close to the sort of exposure money like that will buy He's already the highest earning MP as it is

edkemplar.bsky.social•150 days ago

Will any amount of money make F'rage likeable? 100 billion couldn't buy him any integrity or honour.

lizconway62.bsky.social•148 days ago

Musk is "purchasing" conservatives in multiple democracies, including Canada. He needs to be held accountable for interfering in global politics and elections.

middlevoter.bsky.social•150 days ago

Hey Carol. I’m a big fan of the great work you’re doing. 👏👍💪

I recently read Ian Dunt’s (@iandunt.bsky.social) superb “How Westminster Works … And Why It Doesn’t”.

It really opened my eyes to what’s wrong with UK politics.

[That and the media, but don’t get me started…]

bookeh.bsky.social•150 days ago

Yeah, there's going to be huffing and puffing, talking about tradition and wearing fancy hats, royal family and lords. And maybe how Corbyn was The Greatest Threat (tm). This is the worst dystopian timeline : /
Please people, read books and vote…
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/apr/14/free-and-equal-by-daniel-chandler-review-the-road-to-fairness

politicalcompass1.bsky.social•149 days ago

Definitely not
Neither is new labour

Couldn't have put this better

politicalcompass1.bsky.social•149 days ago

thinkitthrough.bsky.social•150 days ago

Yes

rodee55.bsky.social•140 days ago

Follow #Australia new laws

axesagain.bsky.social•149 days ago

I dreamt I pushed Nigel into a river last night 👍

siongee1.bsky.social•149 days ago

Truly one of the most dangerous men in the world today. Aiming at global domination by "owning" political leadership and controlling media disinformation. Must be legislated against by democratic governments whilst they still exist

johnlondonuk.bsky.social•150 days ago

@teamlabouruk.bsky.social need to get a lot more radical. I want to see a media scrutiny committee headed by Hugh Grant @hackedoff.bsky.social and a media bias unit investigating overseas influence among other things.

ke1t.bsky.social•150 days ago

You need to run for government.
I'll vote for you and I'm not even eligible to vote.

godot47.bsky.social•150 days ago

Absolutely need to place major limits on party donations. What would the reaction of Reform be if an oil state set up a new party here and paid billions to promote a Muslim agenda? Musk is a major threat to democracy worldwide.

shropshiregreenman.bsky.social•149 days ago

With a General Election nearly five years away, it probably doesn't feel like Starmer's top priority, but if that donation does materialise, then it could open the door to untold damage in our country. Fix the media and electoral system now!

chillaxbcn.bsky.social•150 days ago

Labour membership voted in favour of PR. Starmer ignored them just how he ignores the membership on wanting to rejoin the EU. Starmer is dangerous! I wouldn't trust him with my cat.

ayeyermammy.bsky.social•150 days ago

Everyone is always outraged that Farage and Reform get airtime, yet the same people keep platforming both!
Ignore them.

pungentone.bsky.social•149 days ago

There’s a lot that needs sorting out. Including our ancient systems still operating. Let’s face it, NF only benefits when the peasants are revolting. So get it sorted now, no drama.

projectourworld.bsky.social•150 days ago

This needs fixing ASAP

chris-collis.bsky.social•150 days ago

Russian money to undermine Western democracy.
Brexit just one example.

georgekaplannbnw.bsky.social•150 days ago

Any individuals who are a threat to the masses, need to be killed off.

nickthegas.bsky.social•149 days ago

If it only takes £80m to break our democracy, it might need a reset!
If Musk continues interfering ( like Putin), we should put an embargo on his products and kick X out of the country.

causticcelt.bsky.social•150 days ago

We need to get ahead of the game here if we are heading for a populist take over just like USA and backed by that freak Musk

mikemca.bsky.social•150 days ago

PR is acting as a protective buffer against the populist hard right in much of Western Europe.

Our FPTP puts us in real trouble.

They can stop a Reform government in its tracks if they want.
Reader, they didn’t 🤷‍♂️

michaelancestry.bsky.social•149 days ago

Musk can waste money backing the spiv.

stephencole.bsky.social•149 days ago

Time to rid this country of Putin’s 5th columnist Farage.

Please sign.
https://chng.it/tMttNRt8dz

trmyerscough.bsky.social•150 days ago

Maybe start a petition Ms Voderman? I’m not being sarcastic here, we do need a change (even the Tories are banging on about how unfair the current system is), and in a referendum currently, there may be the numbers to get it changed. Ideally STV - which means fringe stay fringe

peteduffield.bsky.social•150 days ago

It'd be more sensible than about 90% of the petitions that do get started...

thewarllama.bsky.social•150 days ago

Labour, especially under Starmer, will do precisely nothing about this. Under the current system, and on an even playing field with popularity, leaders, etc., they have a 50% chance of winning an election; under PR, that falls drastically. If Starmer was moral he'd push PR; he's not.

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply