Comments on: It is a mistake to try and derail the referendum on AV

By: jedibeeftrix

jedibeeftrix — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:52:04 +0000

“I have never understood why the Liberal-Democrats in the coalition talks with the Tories agreed that the Conservatives could campaign against the AV referendum.”

The answer is that there would never have been a coalition agreement if this had been insisted upon, because it would have led to a tory backbench inspired collapse of the government within months of being formed.

Under that circumstance Cameron would have been better going on as a minority government with supply-and-confidence.

http://jedibeeftrix.wordpress.com/2010/09/02/the-av-referendum-%E2%80%93-what-does-clegg-really-want/

By: maryhoneyballmep

maryhoneyballmep — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:15:50 +0000

I completely agree with you that it would be completely wrong to include reducing the number of constituencies in the vote on a referendum on AC

By: maryhoneyballmep

maryhoneyballmep — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:14:16 +0000

Yes, it would be totally wrong for reducing the number of cobstituencies to go in the same referendum vote as AV

By: Colin Gilbey

Colin Gilbey — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:13:25 +0000

Having been a presiding officer at a good many elections I have grave doubts as to the ability of the great British electorate to handle so much at one go, including the public school educated ones.

What is definitely not acceptable is being confronted with a package labeled electoral reform that includes the abolition of or changes to other peoples constituency.

As planned this will be an unwarranted distraction from local issues. The Tories and media have become adept at such tactics.

There is also the problem that in the search for ultimate democracy we forget that Lab and Con supporters are unlikely to nominate each other no 2 and a piggy in the middle is going to do very well, and probably some nasty people on the fringes.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:23:23 +0000

Yes, having been a presiding officer on a number of elections I have grave doubts as to the great British public’s ability to handle so much in one go, public school educated included.

Much as we would like a more representative method of election we should bear in mind that Lab & Con supporters are not going to vote each other 1 & 2. there is going to be a piggy in the middle doing very well, also some quire nasty alternatives.

The really big no, no is including boundary changes on the same ballot paper and calling the package electoral reform.
We should not be voting on this, it is a job for local electors and the Boundary Commission, each one is not a national issue.

By: theshooglypeg

theshooglypeg — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:06:14 +0000

Well, but hold on though. I don’t think Jack Straw was saying that he’d oppose AV, just that there was an issue with the date. And speaking as someone living in Scotland, I agree with him.

Holding it on that date might be electorally advantageous for those in favour of a Yes vote (and I include myself in that category), but it’s extraordinarily disrespectful of the Scottish Parliament elections, which is a bit much from a party that claims to have a Respect agenda towards the devolved administrations.

In 2007, the Scottish Parliament elections descended into chaos with an unprecedented number of spoiled votes. The inquiry that followed found that the problems were caused at least in part by holding council and parliament elections on the same day, and recommended that this should not happen in future.

That’s why people are so annoyed about this decision – it flies in the face of our recent experiences.