For - the fact the Tories don't like it, is good enough for me.

I'll probably draw some jugs on the ballot paper.  Something like that.

For me this is a referendum on Clegg,I shall be voting NO.

Think I'm with you on that one. From what I have (just about) understood - I'm going Yes. this thread has been enlightening and useful TBH - it's not like there's much info out there is it?

I'll bet that's the way they want it though Soozy

Much as I loathe and despise Clegg I think we have to look beyond that TBH.

TBH, I started off thinking no, but the more I read the more I'm thinking yes. If it gives us a chance of 1,2,3,4 etc

 Brisket I agree in your post above I dont agree with Miliband on this one even though I support labour ..I agree with Cameron and wont be voting for Av ..

Although AV is more likely to result in a coalition, the resultant coalition will, more than likely, involve more than two parties. I am fairly sure I will be voting for it, but maybe it's seen differently in Scotland.

I wish I could,but he jumped into bed with the Tories,he lied to the students and the bankers are still enjoying massive bonuses to this day.

I will gladly go head to head with the Tories at any election ,at least you know where you stand with them.

Thanks to Clegg the Liberal Party are almost extinct.

I find it difficult to think beyond Clegg. A fine opportunity to put him out of business.

Brisket, that's basically what I was thinking by the time I had got about 3/4 of the way down the first page I was feeling that too many views were reflecting only how the authors were viewing the present government with scant regard to how it might affect the future.

I'll be voting yes...    then at least some part of my vote may count for something at the general elections.    I live in a tory stronghold...   it will always be a Tory stronghold..    so my piddly non-Tory vote never counts for anything...     at least with AV some part of my opinion may get taken into account.

I think Clegg is destined to die a death anyway, regardless of the outcome of the AV vote, so I think making a vote to 'spite' him would be a waste.

 

We really have to consider how the result of the AV referendum will shape the electoral process for future elections.

I agree .............. in order to get a bit of fame/power/face on the telly - Clegg has put his party back 30 years. God only knows how they'll ever scrape back some sembelance of credibility - the man is a complete arse.

 

i'm sure he thinks he'll have done his bit if he gets electoral reform - however it's really not anything like what his party wants. Cameron threw him a bone and he's lapping it up.

 

In the long term this really has nothing to do with arsehole Clegg - to vote NO simply to spite him is short sighted IMO.

First past the post disenfranchises a lot of people of whatever political colour. Some sort of a proportional voting system is necessary. AV is a compromise solution and we do have to think ahead. A no vote will mean that we'll be stuck with the present system whereas a yes vote for Av opens the door to the possibilty of future changes for the better.

 

As many have said....NOBODY has to vote for more than one candidate if they don't wish to.

You really do have to look beyond the present shower residing on the front benches of all the political parties

Ok then. May I refer you to previous posts of mine over the last decade? AV makes the Lib Dems more likely to hold some amount of power. Whereas I won't be happy until they have the same number of seats as they had in the sixties when I first took an interest in politics. Nine. Ever since they have been banging on about how unfair it all is. They want to change the rules to engineer a positive result for themselves. Yet the cream of their MPs are in the cabinet and we can see how low key and hopeless they are, so how would their even worse reserves do?

And may I refer you to one of MY previous posts, which said that although there is a greater likelyhood of the LibDems being part of a greater number of coalitions in the future, these coalitiond are most likely to be formed by MORE THAN TWO PARTIES, thus any LibDem share is likely to be much smaller than at present. Even back to the nine seats they had in the sixties.

 

On a tangent though, in the sixties they were just the Liberals, the Social Democrats hadn't surfaced yet....and the two certainly hadn't merged!

The Social Democratic Party formed in 1981 and merged with the Liberal Party in 1988. So we've only had LibDems for a little over 20 years.

Vote for the "Work till your 75, Let all the terrorists have guns, Tax Tax Tax, Ban all the pensions party"..

 

Oh you all did! It's all the bleeding parties rolled into one. AV Pah!!!

 

 

So if it's a no vote it won't be a fair referendum because it was first past the post 

So James, you're happy to be represented by an MP/councillor that the majority didn't want?

 

We've seen it happen many a time.

There are only two choices. When there are only two choices AV and 'First Past the Post' will give the same result.

At least it's not as bad as the USA!! Donald Trump would have difficulty getting a nomination for any of our parties.

Dont think i am still understanding it, plus the referendum is costing millions, and people say The Wedding is a waste of money!!

Well ...............it is tagged into Local elections - and really - this is the opportunity to have a say on a change in the way we elect our Parliament - I think (seeing that it's been the same since God knows when) - maybe it's not a bad thing. Maybe our voting system needs an overhaul regardless of the cost - lets face it - the last election was a complete shambles.

It is also the day of The Scottish Election, we will have 3 papers, i see confusion ahead!

My first choice is going to be NO

2nd choice will be Yes.

 

Smarting 

 

 

Can't believe we are 3 pages in and no one else has said this yet

I will be voting No 1 person 1 vote all this rubbish about how AV makes sure 50% of the people want the person to win is a smoke screen people vote 1 for the one they want to win any others are just people you don't want to win the fact that a candidate can be the one more people vote for and lose is absurd. Also why should someone who say votes 1 for the BNP get his/her second choice considered when the 2nd choice of a more popular party voter like labour or the torys is not be considered because the candidate they voted for is actually wanted.

 

AV is NOT proportional representation clegg described it as a miserable little compromise but now he thinks it is the best thing since sliced bread. Also coalitions are much more likely and as we all know this lets government burn there manifesto as they don't have a majority.

 

 

 

It's costing 92 million for this referendum and the the no vote is a mile ahead in the polls so far. It's a rubbish system, Australia want rid of it and no wonder! 

I know I will be out of step here because we are socialists (well, I am), but the LibDems are definitely second choice and not to be badgered. I want them to have more seats than the tories and, if it means a coalition every time, well so be it. I suppose I would say that being German.