Who will/did you vote for on 6th May General Election

[Sippo]

This is a mess really isnt it??

An Eton Mess quite literally.

[ghanimah]

One thing that's pretty clear is if the Tories can't win an outright majority against 13-year incumbents, led by one of the most unpopular PMs in memory, on the brink of a massive recession, and with the Lib Dems failing they way they have, they're never going to get a better chance. I reckon Cameron played a big part in the Tories' underperformance, for all he's supposed to be the New Blair, he's massively repellent

Good points, although I think it's worth noting that the Tories' face an inbuilt bias in the electoral system; they have to win something like 2 million more votes to achieve the same number of seats as Labour, and they had to have the biggest swing in modern history to achieve a majority of just one. They always faced an uphill task.

Then of course there's the 'UKIP effect', which by my reckoning has cost the Tories about 18 seats in this election. I tried my best in Oxford West but didn't quite manage it.

[Samdy Gray]

Yep total. Problem is as far as I can see with PR then it would be like this every time

Well, yes, the whole point of a PR system is that you will very rarely get a single party majority.

[Spy]

Well, yes, the whole point of a PR system is that you will very rarely get a single party majority.

The whole point is that the make up of parliament would accurately reflect the votes cast.

It's not specifically to avoid single party majoritys.

[pauld]

Good points, although I think it's worth noting that the Tories' face an inbuilt bias in the electoral system; they have to win something like 2 million more votes to achieve the same number of seats as Labour, and they had to have the biggest swing in modern history to achieve a majority of just one. They always faced an uphill task.

As they stood as the only major party opposed to electoral reform, you'll forgive me if I use phrases containing the words "hoist" and "petard".

And in any case, it's the same system Blair completely smashed the Tories under and for that matter Thatcher smashed Labour under.

Cameron is a massive failure before he's even started

[Samdy Gray]

The whole point is that the make up of parliament would accurately reflect the votes cast.

It's not specifically to avoid single party majoritys.

I didn't mean the specfic point of PR is to avoid a majority, moreso that it's a by-product of the effect of the system.

[Spy]

You said it was "the whole point" but I guess that was just a figure of speech. Yes, it is a by-product.

[Colin Todd]

Surely PR must mean that some regions end up getting represented by MP's who

A. Have nothing to do with that area (ok, some are like that under the current system)
B. Are not representing the largest party as voted for by the people of that area

[Doore]

Surely PR must mean that some regions end up getting represented by MP's who

A. Have nothing to do with that area (ok, some are like that under the current system)
B. Are not representing the largest party as voted for by the people of that area

Yes - no electoral system is perfect.  30 million voters cannot be crammed into a perfect system.  Speaking from a personal point of view, as a non-Tory in a constituency that has been held continuously by the tories since the 1880s, my vote under the current system was, in effect, irrelevant.  Yes I voted anyway, I think its a responsibility.  Under a PR system, in a very small way, my vote would have made a difference.

[Simon Pieman]

Doesn't it all depend on what form of PR would be in place? If there was no link between constituency and MP then a Tory-vote in a non-Tory constituency would cancel your vote out.

[Doore]

Doesn't it all depend on what form of PR would be in place? If there was no link between constituency and MP then a Tory-vote in a non-Tory constituency would cancel your vote out.

Under the single transferable vote system (which is in no way perfect) you get a constituency link and some proportionality.

[A Gent Orange]

This is where multi-member constituencies come in. Under that system each (larger) constituency has say four or five MPs. This makes it far more likely that you'll have an MP of you party representing you and still have the local tie to an area. So people feel that their vote counts as they feel represented.

[Talk Talk]

Thank fuck it's over. It makes no odds to me who got elected/what coalition is best/who has the best smile on TV. They are all shits.

What I do like though is that nAnny Snelgrove has gone. "Tears in her eyes" at the count apparently. Great, I wish I had been there to see it. Good riddance you venal grasping selfish cunt.

[pauld]

What I do like though is that nAnny Snelgrove has gone. "Tears in her eyes" at the count apparently. Great, I wish I had been there to see it. Good riddance you venal grasping selfish cunt.

Still bitter about losing your deposit last time round then? I see one of your lot stood in Devizes and got a similar spanking - only just beat "spoilt ballots"

[Lumps]

Good points, although I think it's worth noting that the Tories' face an inbuilt bias in the electoral system; they have to win something like 2 million more votes to achieve the same number of seats as Labour, and they had to have the biggest swing in modern history to achieve a majority of just one. They always faced an uphill task.

Then of course there's the 'UKIP effect', which by my reckoning has cost the Tories about 18 seats in this election. I tried my best in Oxford West but didn't quite manage it.

You're deluded if you think that all the votes thrown to UKIP / BNP / ED and other assorted right wing nut jobs were all at the expense of the Tories.