Av

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

I'm voting no because 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.'

Also, I think FPTP is fairer. Peoples mention PR, but that way you will no longer be able to pick your constituent MP, and you will no longer be able to force out an MP you don't like (it's always funny when one of the Cabinet gets voted out at a General Election), as you will voting for a party instead, and they will decide who becomes an MP. AV's been put forward as a compromise between the two but it stinks.

Agree with that and that's why i'm voting "No". At the end of the day people can moan about FPTP but it's worked for many years now and I like the fact you get to vote for a local MP as well as a big daddy at Downing Street.

[flammableBen]

You're still voting for a local MP with AV.

[Peter Venkman]

Agree with that and that's why i'm voting "No". At the end of the day people can moan about FPTP but it's worked for many years now and I like the fact you get to vote for a local MP as well as a big daddy at Downing Street.

I agree and have also voted no.

[oxford_fan]

I disagree... AV will help the BNP as it will help all fringe parties. Thats why most fringe parties are promoting AV. (Except surprisingly the BNP)

AV could boost the number of votes for the BNP but it would be highly unlikely to help the party win any seats.

In fact, in a very divided constituency, the BNP arguably has a better chance of winning a seat under First Past the Post than under AV.

Take Australia’s far-right One Nation party – in 1998 Pauline Hanson would have won a seat under FPTP but under AV she didn’t pick up enough low preferences from mainstream voters.

The secondary votes of BNP supporters also wouldn’t swing a seat for any other party on their own – going on last year’s results.

The only way the BNP would do better would be through a move to PR (proportional representation) – which would give them seats in proportion to the share of the vote they achieve – and that’s not on offer.

“We are never going to get our feet under the table under the AV system.” - BNP’s deputy chairman Simon Darby.

[oxford_fan]

people can moan about FPTP but it's worked for many years now

In what sense?

[Nemo]

Absolute Monarchy worked for many years, doesn't make that a top idea.

[Bogus Dave]

I just voted. Left the yellow slip unmarked in the booth, does that count as 'spoiling the ballot'

Rebel

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

In what sense?

Give me a reason it hasn't? No one was moaning about it 4 years ago....

[Ardiles]

Give me a reason it hasn't? No one was moaning about it 4 years ago....

Not true.  It's just higher up the agenda now than it was then.  The Lib Dems have always been against it...and plenty of folk have held that FPTP is unfair, but up until recently have had no reason to suspect that anything could be done about it.  Sadly, after tomorrow it's going to be off the agenda again for a long time.

[Lumps]

If you want a parliament where the bulk of the seats are filled with Lib Dems or Lib Dem friendly Labour and Tory MP's all sitting around agreeing with each other about how terrible it is that the wealth gap in the UK is widening out of all imagination, but not having the first fucking clue about what to do about it, then I suppose AV might be your thing.
That Greenie in Brighton can kiss her seat goodbye if it goes through though I should think

[pauld]

Give me a reason it hasn't? No one was moaning about it 4 years ago....

People have been complaining about it for decades.

One for Samdy:
[url width=400 height=800]http://rdouglasjohnson.com/misc/av-dogshit.gif[/url]

[flammableBen]

Surely that last frame should read...

"I'll have parma violets, but if you've ran out of them I'd like some Smarties"

[oxford_fan]

Give me a reason it hasn't?

Under a third of the current batch of MPs got over 50% of the vote.

Under half of the total UK population voted for Labour or the Conservatives.

And the third placed party got a central role in Government.

So, again....

people can moan about FPTP but it's worked for many years now

In what sense?

[pauld]

Surely that last frame should read...

"I'll have parma violets, but if you've ran out of them I'd like some Smarties"

Dunno. Mate sent it me, it had dogshit in it, thought Samdy would like it

[Lumps]

And the third placed party got a central role in Government.

So a system which ensures that the strand of political opinion they represent always dominates parliament is a pretty bright move then.......... oh no it isn't is it?