The Next General Election – None Of The Above?

[naomi24]

With the threat (or promise) of a General Election looming, should the option “None of the above” be included on the ballot form? If so, would you elect for that – and if not, which of the current political parties would you support?

At the moment I feel that the option to put my kiss next to ‘None of the above’ would be the only thing that would tempt me into polling booth.

[ichkeria]

There was a candidate w few years ago called “Noneoftheabove” :-)

[Zacs-Master]

I agree with Ich when he says 'You either have anarchy or you ignore it. Either way it is as I say a daft idea. We are in danger of losing our heads here'

I also agree with Calico when she says 'No I won't, there's far too much ridiculousness in politics as it is'

Crazy and rather juvenile idea.

[youngmafbog]

And here comes the liberal elite name calling ....

"Crazy and rather juvenile idea."

[Kromovaracun]

//If 'none of the above' gets the highest number of votes, does that actually mean that the no-one is elected? - Serious question.
If so, then it's worth having on there, and I'd consider voting for it.//

Under our electoral system, which the public voted not to change, the candidate with the plurality (not the majority) of votes wins. So under FPTP this wouldn't happen. There are constituencies in the UK where candidates are declared victorious with 30% of the vote or less (e.g. Belfast South). A 'none of the above' option will just make this problem more extreme across the country.

[lankeela]

As a counting clerk, I can assure you people do indeed write on 'none of the above' plus several other variations on a theme!

[jim360]

Don't think it's a crazy and juvenile idea. I just think it's a bit pointless, and probably counterproductive.

[steg]

Next we’ll hae boaty mcboatface as prime minister

[anotheoldgit]

It would seem that both of our main parties have now joined the Raving Loony Party.

[Ellipsis]

I think compulsory voting is a good idea, and a natural outcome of that is that you have a "None of the above" option.

[Togo]

There is a by Election taking place today in Newport Gwent after the death of Paul Flynn. Labour have historically held a massive majority there and they voted overwhelmingly in favour of Brexit. It is going to be interesting to note the turn out and to see whether one of the fringe candidates picks up the disgruntled Brexit vote. UKIP and For Britain have candidates and there are 11 in all. If Ruth Jones gets the deserved kicking it could be interesting. We will see.

[Togo]

Forgot a link.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-47414610

[youngmafbog]

Strong labour, or strong Cons, will be unlikely to change hands. IT is the small majorities where people can express their wrath.

[ichkeria]

Neil Hamilton still going I see :-)

[Togo]

You would underestimate him at your peril ichy. Whatever was done and said he is no mug. He knows the dance and can sing the tunes. As I said...….may be interesting. I know that he has been out campaigning for the last couple of weeks and is likely to steal votes from the odious Ruth Jones.

[New Judge]

“…then I’m afraid you are effectively indeed saying parliament is useless.
You are encouraging negativity.”

Then the electorate would be in line with their MPs. The Commons has had fifteen votes on possible ways forward with Brexit (three on Mrs May’s deal and twelve more on a variety of other options). Not a single one has attracted a majority. Most haven’t even come close. You can’t get more negative than that.

“…and what happens if everyone does that, NJ? If you end up with a Commons consisting of 23 Communists, you'll deserve all you get.”

Then so be it. At present many (and I would say approaching most) people cast their votes not for the person they want to see elected but for the person they least prefer not to be elected. That’s no way to run a democracy and voters who want a representative should not be compelled to vote for the least unfavourable of a bunch of deadbeats, derelicts and party time-servers.

[ichkeria]

Newport didn’t vote “overwhelmingly” for Brexit in point of fact. The referendum result was only slightly above the overall 52-48.
Any by election at this time ought to be interesting though.

[Ellipsis]

In addition to compulsory voting and a none of the above option, I think that the Lords should be populated on a PR basis, selecting top down from an ordered party list, using the same election data as the Commons. (e.g. top of the Tory list would be Baroness Evans, the current Leader of the House of Lords).

[ichkeria]

I don’t agree with Togo on much but I do agree with him that the “none of the above” approach if taken to its logical conclusion just leaves the door open to loonies be it 23 communists, or whoever. When apathy rules the extremists always sneak in.

[New Judge]

"I think that the Lords should be populated on a PR basis, selecting top down from an ordered party list,..."

So you'd only have party representatives in the Lords?

[Ellipsis]

> The Commons has had fifteen votes on possible ways forward with Brexit (three on Mrs May’s deal and twelve more on a variety of other options). Not a single one has attracted a majority.

And the reason is that the more options you have, the less likely one option will be in a majority - because for it to have a majority, it needs to be more popular than all the other options combined. Why on earth one option would be expected to win a majority is beyond me - the votes were set up to produce the outcome they have.