Will we ever get a fair voting system?

Here in the UK we are in the first year of a 5 year parliament where the Conservative Party have an overall majority of seats in the House of Commons but that is only because (for the UK Parliament) we have a 'first passed the post' constituency voting system. In this system the way people vote is not reflected in the number of seats in Parliament. For instance, the Conservatives increased their share of the vote by only 0.8% but gained an extra 24 seats. Labour increased their share by nearly double, 1.5%,  but actually lost 26 seats! A crazy system! For more see: the BBC General Election Results 

In fact by a large majority most of the people in the UK did not vote for the Conservatives, who got just over 11 million votes, whereas votes for other parties amounted to 19 million!

Sadly though, we are now beset with a 5 year period of Conservative style legislation despite the huge majority of people NOT voting for the Conservatives. We are having to endure a 5 year programme where the Conservatives impose their version economics (Osbourne’s budgets), their nuclear energy programme, and their relaxation of the human rights legislation, planning laws, climate change legislation and much more!  

http://electoral-reform.org.uk/

If you think that the voting system should change please join the Electoral Reform Society and/or support their campaigns via:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/electoralreform and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/electoralreformsociety




Or support #FairVotesNow on www.change.org

Do we need more national boundaries dividing up this little island?

Here are observations on Scottish Independence from an ordinary fellow who lives in England but who comes from a multinational background and whose wife is half Scottish.  Please explore there links and let me have your views:  

Peace, democracy, strong economy +  cultural & historical heritage development rather more national borders
Is independence really worth it? Perhaps Scotland should be more outward looking and concentrate on improving the economy and creating a better future for our children.

Scotland has wide-ranging financial spending freedom now!
Does Scotland need independence to achieve a better future for people who live in Scotland? There are doubtful benefits to independence and many potential major catastrophes including the issues surrounding oil prices and oil extraction in the North Sea. Here,  I try and put the facts and signal some of the dangers.


An historical view on Scottish independence
Why did I write this? Because I remember Winston Churchill's words (and many others who have the same sentiment): “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it” 


PS: 
If I were to be cynical I could say: perhaps some of the leaders of the independence movement want to strut the world stage like kings of old? 

Voting Reform - AV

Simply put - “AV” is designed to ensure whoever is elected has the broad support of the majority of people in the constituency.

All you do is to say who you would prefer to be your MP by writing 1 against the name. Then you say who you would have as your 2nd & 3rd choice etc. You don’t have to put down a 2nd or 3rd choice if you don’t want to.

This short video clearly explains AV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FstA45lxgFs

Who uses AV now? -
• Leadership elections for Labour and Liberal Democrats
• Elections for UK parliamentary officials including Select Committee Chairs.
• Elections for the Academy Award for Best Picture
• Australian House of Representatives.
• Millions of people in membership organisations, such as my one – the British Computer Society.
• Most Student Union elections.
• Irish Presidential election.
• Numerous American City, Mayoral and district elections.

Australia has used AV for 80 years

If you want the view of the Electoral Reform Society click on this link; http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/article.php?id=55
Or go the yes vote web site: http://www.yestofairervotes.org/

The 2010 Coalition?

An open letter to the Liberal Democrats

We have more that binds us than divides us. In this country we have got used to adversarial politics but perhaps we should get used to the politics of co-operation. It is a big risk for the Liberals because any step the Conservatives make, which is not to the satisfaction of the Liberal supporters will cause problems with party activists. However, we have to steel ourselves. The stakes are too high for this country and the Liberals not to take up the challenge. The Conservatives have the most votes of any party and for the next parliament (say four years) we should endeavour to work with them.

I know this is a difficult pill to swallow and we will undoubtedly lose some members to the Greens, Labour and other parties but if we hold our integrity high and work in the best interests of the country we should be able to convince our members in time for the next election that we have done our best for the people of Great Britain.

We have a very difficult two or three years ahead and we need firm government to steer our way out of the financial mess which was not caused by Mr Brown but caused by our casino bankers and we, the people of the UK, are to pay the price.

Some say that whoever goes into power now will not be elected again at the next election because of all the stringent measures which will have to be imposed on the people of this country. However, the Liberal Democrats should not shy away from bringing together, albeit with the Conservatives, a program to steer the country to calmer waters and better times. In business one often has to work with people you don’t like – in fact, this is often the case most of the time, but you still have to do it and at the same time, succeed for the benefit of the company. In this case, the company is our country.

It could be said that the Cameron offer has just been put to us to force us to reject it. That may be the case, but it still doesn’t give the Liberal Democrats an excuse for not having the courage to do what is inevitable when there is no overall majority. In fact, I think Mr Cameron would be quite surprised to find that we say, ‘yes, let’s work together’. It will put them on the spot. Their supporters will have to swallow hard and allow the politicians in the coalition the time to restore this country to stability.

Personally, I would prefer a three party coalition, but perhaps that is a step too far for this country which has a political a voting system which hasn’t changed since Victorian times.

I support Mr Clegg and our team in Parliament and I will continue to support them in a coalition government, whatever the press may say or in future the Labour opposition. The Liberal light will not go out. We will hold firm to our beliefs and principles to guide us through these difficult waters.

Good luck to the Liberal team of MPs led by Nick Clegg.