Av

[flammableBen]

I'm not a big fan of the Lib Dems or Ukip or and of the other parties which are likely to benefit. But if it stops people being scared of putting down who they want instead of voting for someone because it's not someone else, then I'm in favour, even if it's a party I don't like.

If the conservatives have to pay attention to the fact that 30% of their vote in a constituency came from UKIP or BNP voter's second choice, then that's a good thing. Even if I don't agree with any of them.

Same with Labour and whatever fragments of remaining left wing parties there are.

It's an improvement over knowing that you'll get half your votes from people just because they don't want the other lot in. Whether or not the parties choose to take that into account is up them. I'm sure the conservatives will still be able to rely on UKIP voter's 2nd preference whatever they do, but the whole thing seems a bit more open.

AV isn't a perfect system, but neither is what we've got, and it's a step in the right direction.

[Simon Pieman]

I put 1 in the yes box and 2 in the no. Hopefully one of my preferred options wins

[ghanimah]

If the conservatives have to pay attention to the fact that 30% of their vote in a constituency came from UKIP or BNP voter's second choice, then that's a good thing. Even if I don't agree with any of them.

The BNP is a Labour problem not a Tory one despite popular misconception

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8454590.stm

[flammableBen]

The BNP is a Labour problem not a Tory one despite popular misconception

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8454590.stm

It doesn't surprise me - although I haven't read the article yet. The Tory heartlands aren't where immigrants come. I imagine that the more multi-cultural areas are where the left generally do well. Not exactly Chipping Norton.

[pauld]

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.

As opposed to the current system of a choice between Tories, New Tories and Clegg's "Tories in Sheep's Clothing"?

[Lumps]

As opposed to the current system of a choice between Tories, New Tories and Clegg's "Tories in Sheep's Clothing"?

Same shit but worse. Can't see the likes of Jeremy Corbyn  / Tony Benn / Eric Heffer / Dennis Skinner / Dave Nellist getting elected anywhere outside rock solid Labour seats in the future if they have to rely on Liberal voters in the second round

[flammableBen]

Same shit but worse. Can't see the likes of Jeremy Corbyn  / Tony Benn / Eric Heffer / Dennis Skinner / Dave Nellist getting elected anywhere outside rock solid Labour seats in the future if they have to rely on Liberal voters in the second round

I think you're overestimating your average lib voter a bit. Most of them are just people who won't vote Tory's but are fed up of labour. I doubt many of them are voting on the basis of Nick Clegg and chum's "we should privatise everything" Orange Book. It's pretty much all students and other retards.

Hence the big surprise when Clegg and co showed their true colours with the Tory Coalition. Their voters are liberal on social matters, not economic ones. That's why nobody will vote for them at all now.

Is Tony Benn planning to run again? He's great.

[pauld]

Same shit but worse. Can't see the likes of Jeremy Corbyn  / Tony Benn / Eric Heffer / Dennis Skinner / Dave Nellist getting elected anywhere outside rock solid Labour seats in the future if they have to rely on Liberal voters in the second round

They won't get elected because they won't be selected as candidates. That's got less to do with the system of voting so much as the blandising of all the main parties - welcome to the age of the Technocrat (and I don't mean that in any sense in a good way)

[@MacPhlea]

perhaps we can prove how pointless AV is by creating an AV poll for the next manager...

[pauld]

perhaps we can prove how pointless AV is by creating an AV poll for the next manager...

I suspect that would largely prove how pointless polls for the next manager are

[iffy]

Jeremy Corbyn got 55% of the vote at the last election. There's not an electoral system in the world that could dislodge him.

[Ardiles]

You're forgetting Zimbabwe.

[@MacPhlea]

I suspect that would largely prove how pointless polls for the next manager are

Or indeed how pointless appointing a new manager will be as there will be some minority somewhere opposed to his (or her) appointment that will voice their discontent and argue that there was a better alternative.

So... if AV doesn't succeed today the board should give the vote to the fans to appoint a manager using AV system.  That way whoever is appointed will at least have been a first, second or third (or tenth) choice of the majority of the fans and the minority who didn't vote for them can fuck off and support the scum.

[pauld]

First declaration in from Scilly Isles comes in at around 2/3 no, 1/3 yes. So that's the two blokes voting no and the dog voting yes. Reckon that will probably be similar nationally.

[Nemo]

Up to 7 constituencies and 70% no so far. Ah well, that's Cleggy Weggy nailed to a wall then.