results

[Jon MW]

AV

Who likes AV? Makes no sense to me. As I understand it everyone's first choice gets counted and if no-one has >50% then the last place candidate is eliminated and the peeps that voted for them have their 2nd choice votes counted instead.

So you count the second choice votes of the craziest people first. Is that how it works?

Probs good for the Tories in a lot of places, UKIP voters 2nd choice (presumably Tory) would be counted before the LibDem voters 2nd choice (presumably Labour)

This link http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8644480.stm has an estimate based on results and polls for how the main 2 alternatives would have affected the 2005 result.

Interesting that AV doesn't seem to alter the seats too much..........I guess that's why the Tories have just offered it to the libdems!

It's also the preferred option for Labour

[   ] shocker

[gatso]

apart from the obv fact that it'd never happen is there anything to stop a conlab coalition happening if they get fed up with clegg?

Nah Labour are in metagame mode - they've got rid of Brown so they are already positioning themselves for the next election that prob won't be far away as it looks like libdems aren't getting what they want from the cons.

I meant constitutionally. is there something like the MMC for politics to stop them forming a super party

No, but they'd lose core support and splinter parties would rise up to take the place of the opposition

but libdems would be the opposition, why would splinter parties replace them? or do you mean long term?

[Jon MW]

apart from the obv fact that it'd never happen is there anything to stop a conlab coalition happening if they get fed up with clegg?

Nah Labour are in metagame mode - they've got rid of Brown so they are already positioning themselves for the next election that prob won't be far away as it looks like libdems aren't getting what they want from the cons.

I meant constitutionally. is there something like the MMC for politics to stop them forming a super party

No, but they'd lose core support and splinter parties would rise up to take the place of the opposition

but libdems would be the opposition, why would splinter parties replace them? or do you mean long term?

Yeah long term

New Tory and New New Labour (although Lib Dems could get flooded with ex Labour supporters instead)

[thetank]

It's only an estimate. Dunno about y'all but I only put one cross on my ballot paper.

[Teacake]

I quite like that brown is now in his second term without being elected and if we go liblab he'll be followed by an unelected pm. democracy in action

I wish ppl wld stop saying this - we don't have primeminesterial elections in this country.  So the words "unelected pm" are completely meaningless.

okay

I quite like that brown is now in his second term without ever receiving a mandate from the electorate to lead the country and if we go liblab he'll be followed by another pm who hasn't received a mandate from the electorate to lead the country. democracy in action

better?

this

John Major & Alex Douglas Hume say  

that's completely lost me. major got the largest number of votes ever didn't he?

He was an unelected PM for about 18 months. My point being that its not that unusual

[Jon MW]

I quite like that brown is now in his second term without being elected and if we go liblab he'll be followed by an unelected pm. democracy in action

I wish ppl wld stop saying this - we don't have primeminesterial elections in this country.  So the words "unelected pm" are completely meaningless.

okay

I quite like that brown is now in his second term without ever receiving a mandate from the electorate to lead the country and if we go liblab he'll be followed by another pm who hasn't received a mandate from the electorate to lead the country. democracy in action

better?

this

John Major & Alex Douglas Hume say  

that's completely lost me. major got the largest number of votes ever didn't he?

He was an unelected PM for about 18 months. My point being that its not that unusual

It's not unknown but it's still unusual.

And having 2 in a row would be unknown.

[Bongo]

From the BBC:

Some clarification. Labour are planning to offer the Lib Dems a bill on bringing in the AV electoral system and a referendum on a fuller system of proportional representation, Lib Dem sources tell the BBC. The Tories, by contrast, are offering a referendum on AV and fixed-term parliaments.

Surely the Tory offer is the fairest and most democratic?

[Bongo]

I quite like that brown is now in his second term without being elected and if we go liblab he'll be followed by an unelected pm. democracy in action

I wish ppl wld stop saying this - we don't have primeminesterial elections in this country.  So the words "unelected pm" are completely meaningless.

He wasn't elected as leader of his party either as he bullied all possible opponents into submission...

lol he pushed the chips in and no one called - did you expect him to check it down like a girly libdem?

It would be a bit closer to shoving the chips in and then pointing out the casino is his mate and he'll bar you if you call.

[thetank]

Labour are all over the place. All over the place.

Days like these, 24Hour news is incred.

[ripple11]

Never thought I would ever agree with Labour's ex Home Secretary John Reed. Well said!

[Jon MW]

Never thought I would ever agree with Labour's ex Home Secretary John Reed. Well said!

   I know, shocking amount of sense being talked

[nirvana]

Never thought I would ever agree with Labour's ex Home Secretary John Reed. Well said!

   I know, shocking amount of sense being talked

I can honestly say I have never heard a politician speak with such clarity, in so few words with such complete integrity.

Sometimes you think you see people being sincere/authentic but I think in future I will more easily identify it - it will be the John Reed test for me from now on

[nirvana]

He might also just be a better strategic thinker and recognise that being in power over the next 5 years is probably long term -ev

[77dave]

All i know is this country would be in better shape if Ray Winstone and Jeremy Clarkson ran the country

[Jon MW]

Never thought I would ever agree with Labour's ex Home Secretary John Reed. Well said!

   I know, shocking amount of sense being talked

I can honestly say I have never heard a politician speak with such clarity, in so few words with such complete integrity.

Sometimes you think you see people being sincere/authentic but I think in future I will more easily identify it - it will be the John Reed test for me from now on

I wouldn't put too much faith in his integrity

For his party it's a better strategic move to not be the next government

For him personally - he's probably one parliamentary term away from retirement, having that on the back bench with his cabinet career behind him isn't really that much of a sacrifice.