There's some very poor coverage of the issues over the proposed new voting system. Some would see it as a much fairer system but I don't necessarily agree.
There is little information or discussion about some fundamental issues.
First, there is no compunction to make more than one vote. You do not have to show your preferences in order.
Second, bearing in mind that the UK is basically a three party state, is anyone who traditionally votes left, or right, suddenly going to think I'll vote for the other side. I don't think so.
The only party that can hope to gain is the Lib Dems because, despite being a left wing party, their politics are a lot more fuzzy than the either the Conservatives or Labour. Faced with a list of three choices, because that's basically what you've got (I discount all the fringe parties because no one is ever going to vote for them in any number) a Conservative might vote for a Lib Dem but never for Labour and the same applies to a Labour voter who would never vote for a Conservative but again might vote for a Lib Dem.
In practice we will all place one vote, like before, and nothing will change. So I would argue, why change?
This is the best article that I have read so far.
I agree. I thought that I would vote in favor of it but after thinking about it some more, I think I'll vote against. It seems stupid to be voting, albeit down the rankings a bit, for someone you either don't know about or don't like because you are told that you have to. I spent 10 minutes yesterday trying to explain AV to my Mum and I'm still not sure that she quite "gets it".
ReplyDeleteThat's the way I felt as well. To start with I was generally in favour but after reading the small print I changed my mind. Couldn't see the point.
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