Twilight of the old politics ?

[olddutch]

““ Cleggmania was the equivalent of a loud cathartic scream from a bemused, frightened and angry electorate.

Probably their disillusionment with the traditionally bigger two parties had little to do with what either Labour or the Conservatives were proposing at the election. But voters saw in Clegg a figure who could perhaps guide them away from . This recognition, however vaguely formed, had in its origins a refreshing clarity. A majority of voters yearn for a new way of conducting politics””….. so says the Independent today.

What do you yearn for as a new way of conducting our politics ?

or are you satisfied with the political orthodoxy as represented by the old duopoly ?

[Gromit]

There isn't much wrong with the system. First past the post gives stable if not wholely representative Governments.

What went wrong, was the same as the Financial crisis, there were rules but they were bent and the regulatory bodies were inadequate. In the case of MPs, self regulation was superceded by self interest and greed. That does not mean the system is rotten, it means the policing was rotten.

having said that, I am looking forward to the hung parliament experiment. I hope Clegg and the LibDems do well.

[olddutch]

Hello Gromit

I believe the past months have clearly shown that very many voters now want a change to a new system of polilitics and that PR would be the system to accommodate that voter desire.

PR is an obviously much fairer voting system in that the number of MPs in the parliament will be a reflection of the total number of votes cast per party. It produces a greater effective choice for voters by reducing the dominance of the large parties, encourages fuller voter turn-out and reduces voter apathy .Voters will be more likely to vote if they think their vote will always count ,and this would promote truer democracy.

PR promotes the fairer treatment of minority parties and independent candidates By rarely producing an absolute majority for one party, PR ensures greater continuity of government and requires greater consensus in policy-making. I believe that stable government is viable through PR. Once PR had replaced FPTP and bedded in, a greater consensual politics would, of necessity, evolve. The ethos of adversarial politics after elections had been held would quieten over time and stable Government under PR would be as workable here as it is in many other countries - but no system is perfect .

I too am looking forward to a hung parliament working well on all counts - especially fair austerity measures - and the LibDem collaboration eventually generating PR.

However, we’ll have to wait and see until Friday at least how it all turns out .

[mike11111]

"A majority of voters yearn for a new way of conducting politics..." Such a sweeping generalisation is risible. If the LibDems were around the 50% mark in the polls then such a statement might have some credence. As it is, according to all opinion polls, at least 65% favour either Labour or the Tories - a resounding victory for the old politics I would say.

[olddutch]

Maybe the Independent newspaper correspondent believes that elements of Tory voters and Labour voters and other party voters and non voters also want a change to the system but not through the Lib Dems - as for me personally I don’t know about a majority but believe a significant and increasing amount of voters want some sort of political change . There is also still a lot of voter apathy out there because of the sterility and abuse of the old politics - the old politics isn’t something worth crowing about

[gilf]

mike11111 - Labour are also "promising" to reform parliament and the voting system, so your argument doesn't wash.

Labour don't want PR but some new form which great represents votes cast, and no doubt they will go back on their promise as they did with the EU Referendum and no hike in tax rate promises they made last time.