Comments on: Nick Clegg needs to find a Reverse Gear

By: Gareth Robson

Gareth Robson — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:35:20 +0000

Exactly the sort of tactical voting which would be made unnecessary if lib-dem supporters could vote LD 1st choice and Labour 2nd choice.

AV is all that is going to be on offer. It’s probably nobody’s first choice but it is way, way better than FPTP.

Time is running out – if we lose the election, we’re stuck with FPTP for a long while as Mary explains. So therefore we must put pressure on the party to go for a referendum on or before the election date, not after. We cannot afford to lose this chance.

By: Julian Ware-Lane

Julian Ware-Lane — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:21:15 +0000

I was at that fringe and all four speakers gave a good account of themselves. Your comments re the Liberal Democrats are apposite.

I hope our promises on reform are just the start. Labour in large part was born out of the movement for democratic reform, a movement that stalled for most of the last century. At last it looks like we may be back on track.

By: maryhoneyballmep

maryhoneyballmep — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:01:38 +0000

Jon
Unsure which constituencies you’re suggesting. Off the top of my head I struggle to think of any Lib Dem/Tory seats where the Labour vote has not already been squeezed hard, this certainly applies in South west, and SW London, Lewes, Hereford, Cheltenham, Solihull, N Norfolk. I think it is hard to see this applying in Scotland and Wales but it is hard to see Tories winning Lib Dem seats here. The question is does Nick Clegg want an arrangement which whilst maybe not his ideal vision will provide 80-100 seats in most Parliaments with more chances for hung Parliaments to press his case, or will he ignore the best prospect ever available?

Labour does not need to reciprocate, but even if it wanted to the deal cannot be an equal one. Does Nick Clegg want the best chance ever of getting electoral reform and 80-100 MEPs at every election? It’s up to him to make the right call.

By: Jon Harvey

Jon Harvey — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:00:37 +0000

Mary – I guess the question is – can such a deal be made two way? Would Labour be prepared to back pedal in a few constituencies in order to ensure a Lib Dem seat is not lost to the Tories, or even that an existing Tory seat is won by the Lib Dems? Otherwise I don’t think this plan will get very far.