[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

That's not really how it works Niamh, they didn't even get 40% of the popular vote. I suppose you can't assume that everyone who didn't vote Tory was actively against having a Tory government... but you can't assume that they weren't, either. I'm relatively confident in saying that anyone who voted Labour, SNP, Green, most Independents, and a good chunk of Lib Dem would not have wanted a Tory government.

But you're never going to get a party having over 50% in a multi-party system, its not happened since 1931 in this country when politics really was a two party affair. And even if you put together Labour voters, SNP voters, Green voters and every Lib Dem voter, that doesn't even make up 50% of the vote. If we absolutely insist on talking about national vote share well then the right of centre parties in the Tories, Ukip, the DUP and the UUP got just about over 50% of the national vote.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by MTVN

But you're never going to get a party having over 50% in a multi-party system, its not happened since 1931 in this country when politics really was a two party affair. And even if you put together Labour voters, SNP voters, Green voters and every Lib Dem voter, that doesn't even make up 50% of the vote. If we absolutely insist on talking about national vote share well then the right of centre parties in the Tories, Ukip, the DUP and the UUP got just about over 50% of the national vote.

The SNP have managed to take 50% of the vote in Scotland,in a multi party election.

I accept that parties except in a freak election probably,cannot get 50% of the vote but the votes for the 2 parties have fallen every decade and now over the last decade in 3 elections,neither party has exceeded 37% of the vote and more to the point,both main parties have not even secured just 70% of the total votes cast between them.

It used to be called the magic 40% figure,for elections.
Neither main party has got even just a dead 40% since 2001.

I feel now, that is unacceptable and unsustainable and if the UK really wants people to vote more,then they have to see that their votes do count and that out of every 10 voters that vote, a govt; cannot be elected to absolute power,by actually taking less than 4 of those voters out of every 10.

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

The SNP have managed to take 50% of the vote in Scotland,in a multi party election.

I accept that govts; except in a freak election probably,cannot get 50% of the vote but the votes for the 2 parties have fallen every decade and now over the last decade in 3 elections,neither party has exceeded 37% of the vote and more to the point,both main parties have not even secured just 70% of the total votes cast between them.

It used to be called the magic 40% figure,for elections.
Neither main party has got even just a dead 40% since 2001.

I feel now, that is unacceptable and unsustainable and if the UK really wants people to vote more,then they have to see that their votes do count and that out of every 10 voters that vote, a govt; cannot be elected to absolute power,by actually taking less than 4 of those voters out of every 10.

I'll be very surprised if that ever gets replicated again though even in Scotland. I accept there could be a debate to be had over electoral reform even though I do think our system works well in combining the national with the local in allowing regions to choose the representative of their interests, the fact remains that the majority of constituencies did democratically elect a Conservative MP. But we could debate different electoral systems till the cows come home, there are clear benefits to each system available and clear drawbacks.

[bots]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

The SNP have managed to take 50% of the vote in Scotland,in a multi party election.

I accept that parties except in a freak election probably,cannot get 50% of the vote but the votes for the 2 parties have fallen every decade and now over the last decade in 3 elections,neither party has exceeded 37% of the vote and more to the point,both main parties have not even secured just 70% of the total votes cast between them.

It used to be called the magic 40% figure,for elections.
Neither main party has got even just a dead 40% since 2001.

I feel now, that is unacceptable and unsustainable and if the UK really wants people to vote more,then they have to see that their votes do count and that out of every 10 voters that vote, a govt; cannot be elected to absolute power,by actually taking less than 4 of those voters out of every 10.

The only way to have a election system more reflective of % votes is through some form of PR system. To get 40% or more votes in multi party politics is going to be next to impossible.

I've said it before, the UK was given the choice of a new system and they said NO. To try and diminish that result by saying other issues were more important or whatever is not supportive of democracy .... again. Democracy is not something you can pick up and forget as it suits.

All that being said, we have a democracy, people can lobby for change, and if they get the required support it will change. But all i see is bleating, yes, i repeat bleating, because people can't accept the result of a democratic election. Its disgusting. If people didn't want something they wouldn't have voted for it.

In a democracy, it is everyones right to have their view respected. People voted for the conservatives IN THE MAJORITY - that is the will of the people

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

The only way to have a election system more reflective of % votes is through some form of PR system. To get 40% or more votes in multi party politics is going to be next to impossible.

I've said it before, the UK was given the choice of a new system and they said NO. To try and diminish that result by saying other issues were more important or whatever is not supportive of democracy .... again. Democracy is not something you can pick up and forget as it suits.

All that being said, we have a democracy, people can lobby for change, and if they get the required support it will change. But all i see is bleating, yes, i repeat bleating, because people can't accept the result of a democratic election. Its disgusting. If people didn't want something they wouldn't have voted for it.

In a democracy, it is everyones right to have their view respected. People voted for the conservatives IN THE MAJORITY - that is the will of the people

That is what I am saying,obviously the election result cannot be changed but now for me, the system needs to be changed sooner rather than later.

I am saying,I am now a convert to pr,now I would support it fully.

It doesn't however mean that everyone has to now sit back and let this govt; trample over them like bulldozers and not speak out as to that meantime.

So I will now choose myself to support any organisation and parties that will look at pr again and also, I,for one,will join marches such as the one on Sunday against anything I see as a massive and wrong injustice.

Putting my words into action, rather than just sitting around talking about it and letting it happen without any attention being drawn to the fact it is happening.