I know... and, if what I heard is right,  that is what Labour is apparently offering.... straightaway , and it would seem without consulting us.....

First past the post just isn't working in the modern world so electoral reform is imperative IMHO.

Us plebs have obviously mucked up the whole electoral system by how we voted and have thrown it into chaos  Maybe they're doing deals to stop us voting in the future

Cloud cuckoo land though innit Suzy....ref: ditty

Not necessarily. Without visionaries or dreamers there would never be advances. We may be going through a British political renaissance.

That's how I like to think of it. I'm kinda scared of getting my hopes up though.

ooooh... you make it sound all exciting again Suzy!

Stay positive ducky. It will all come out in the wash

Also make it sound bloody confusing... wtf does that mean!?

I think it means we get to drink lots of absinthe & do finger paintings of poppy fields

Well it's galvanised this forum, imagine that writ large. It may seem like chaos at the moment but it's also a perfect opportunity to get a clearing and then create some new theories to suit the world. After all, as human beings we are more similar than we are different, be it Conservative, Labour or Lib Dem.

Also make it sound bloody confusing... wtf does that mean!? ref: meat pie


A Re-birth

oh god!  you are more of a fluffy optimist than I am!

oooh yeah... I second that!

Oh God No! Ducky no way! Just fed up with tribalism. I like playing for big teams Furthermore, I've never learnt anything from people who think like me...I learn from people who see the world differently. That's why I think it's possible for all the politicians to sit down and engage with each other, be open to new ideas. What have they got to lose?

The slightly clever bit here.. I think... all the expenses scandal whiff of corruption etc... need an antidote .. so the Conservatives and Lib Dems form a coalition... formal or otherwise.. good of the nation.. all pull together type of stuff... clever move for both sides for different reasons. Lib Dems get a sniff of power for the first time in ages, Conservatives get a cloak of righteousness  that will be impervious to the slings and arrows from Labour. "We are working together for good of country and all you did was cock it up" type of thing.


Z.

YES!!! me too....    its why I like it if I am proved wrong - you learn & grow.

But these people never admit they are wrong... well, not unless a tabloid has managed to get proof of wrongness & published the proof... and the PR men have decided that they should issue an insincere press release admitting they were wrong.

They believe their own hype...  & to admit the other side is right is seen as a weakness... 

Even if one of them did open their mind... and back down on something...  change their opinion on an issue.... there would be people within their own parties that would use it against them....

I could go for that

   that is seriously cynical!

I do seem to be displaying that trait.. of late..


Z.

Too many exciting late nights Zaphod

Well they have to become a little more humble now, because this time round so many more people are becoming interested in politics (could be the Obama factor, the televised debates, punishing them for the expenses scandal...etc. etc.). More people voting throws up more anomalies like a hung parliament. Politicians generally thrive in times of mass apathy. So, in conclusion, we've got them by the balls

Well in my defence Baz I did have to blink back a tear whilst watching the film 'Fluke' this afternoon so I can't be all cynic

Well I shall stroll off now as I have work tomorrow... night fellow Politicos

Z.

Night Z....I'm off too. Night all

Bottom line is if the Tory's/Lib Dems get in there will still be tough times ahead, tougher for some than others. It's easier to be in Opposition and criticise everything the Gov't do but when takeover takes place they'll have a dose of reality

Night Suzy

I have heard it bandied about that there is a possibility of PR on an elected House of Lords with first past the post kept on the House of Commons. What does everyone think of that?

Morning squiggle  I think the whole system needs a good shake up. Both houses need to be more accountable to each other and to the electorate.

Morning suzy first and foremost what we need now is for honesty and decency to be brought back into politics.  I was most impressed with the guy from the Parliamentary Standards Authority yesterday on the Andrew Marr Show.  Complete transparency is being demanded from MP's.  They are entitled to a home in their constituency and for their home in London, say, a one bed flat or if their family is with them something proportionate.  All expenses to be backed by receipts and published online.  No flipping etc. and we must make sure that we demand honesty from them from now on.  I like the idea of being able to dismiss your MP if they fall below the standards.  As others have said time to underline that the electorate is the master and the politicians public servants.  And for all those who ducked out at the last election because the gravy train hit the buffers, goodbye, you won't be missed.  Bearing in mind we still have some of those who did manage to get re-elected, and they need watching.

I can't argue with any of that squiggle

It's better than PR, which I believe would give seats to the likes of BNP.

Agreed, we have all been on tenterhooks the last few days, well there would be a lot more of that if we had PR, never-ending in fact.  There would be no possibility, as there is now, of chucking out one lot of politicians and trying our luck with a new lot.

Up here we have preferential voting(Scotland),you vote for more than one person/party if you want. e.g. first choice second choice.That's why there are a fair few Tories etc in the Scottish parliament whereas there is only a sole Tory MP for Westminster.Think Wales has it too and some other countries.

Yeah, but I heard a Muslim Imaam on a BBC 1 programme yesterday put it really well. Let's give these 'pseudo' political movements (like the BNP) a voice, if needs be, then attempt to win them over with open debate. Marginalisng them, making them go more underground is not the way forward.

In my view what happened was democracy in action, BNP stands for election, net result no seats.  I was proud of the people of Barking who, more than most of us, have had to struggle with the problems brought about by being swamped with immigration.

You had my attention until you used the word 'swamped'. That's BNP terminology.

I don't care what terms the BNP use, you been to Barking recently? And swamped was used very advisedly because that's exactly what areas around there have been.

Yeah, I've been to Barking recently.

Right im back from college, whats going on with the election then?