Comments on: On Electoral Reform http://www.markfarrington.co.uk/2010/05/on-electoral-reform/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=on-electoral-reform Ramblings on radio, beer, the internet and other stuff that I come across. Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:36:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Mark http://www.markfarrington.co.uk/2010/05/on-electoral-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-89 Mark Mon, 10 May 2010 18:46:34 +0000 http://blog.markfarrington.co.uk/?p=90#comment-89 <a href="#comment-88" rel="nofollow">@David Board</a> This is 'sort of' the beauty of PR. Whilst it would be possible with Party List or STV to have a majority in the second house it's very difficult (look at the breakdown, proportionally of the last 5 or so elections - there'd be no majority with Party List there) two proportional houses, or two FPTP houses could lead to one party dominating both houses. Also the Lords has always suffered this, hereditary peers are traditionally Conservative - life-peers appointed by the government are (almost) always in favor of the standing government (say again Lord Sugar...) at least with a PR Lords it would be up to us! @David Board
This is ‘sort of’ the beauty of PR. Whilst it would be possible with Party List or STV to have a majority in the second house it’s very difficult (look at the breakdown, proportionally of the last 5 or so elections – there’d be no majority with Party List there) two proportional houses, or two FPTP houses could lead to one party dominating both houses.

Also the Lords has always suffered this, hereditary peers are traditionally Conservative – life-peers appointed by the government are (almost) always in favor of the standing government (say again Lord Sugar…) at least with a PR Lords it would be up to us!

]]> By: David Board http://www.markfarrington.co.uk/2010/05/on-electoral-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-88 David Board Mon, 10 May 2010 18:02:54 +0000 http://blog.markfarrington.co.uk/?p=90#comment-88 Great post Mark, I think I agree. The idea of the two houses having different voting systems is excellent. I still think there is a danger of one party dominating both houses. Even if they are both elected and that is the 'will of the people', there still needs to be a house that won't just pass through anything the governing party want. Not sure how you'd solve that while still being fair. Great post Mark, I think I agree. The idea of the two houses having different voting systems is excellent.

I still think there is a danger of one party dominating both houses. Even if they are both elected and that is the ‘will of the people’, there still needs to be a house that won’t just pass through anything the governing party want. Not sure how you’d solve that while still being fair.

]]> By: Chris Wheal http://www.markfarrington.co.uk/2010/05/on-electoral-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-86 Chris Wheal Mon, 10 May 2010 15:34:09 +0000 http://blog.markfarrington.co.uk/?p=90#comment-86 Thanks for linking to my explanation of the NUJ election system. I recently wrote elsewhere about why the current system would need to be replaced too http://www.dailyfinance.co.uk/2010/05/07/financial-markets-must-get-used-to-pr/ Thanks for linking to my explanation of the NUJ election system.

I recently wrote elsewhere about why the current system would need to be replaced too http://www.dailyfinance.co.uk/2010/05/07/financial-markets-must-get-used-to-pr/

]]> By: Tweets that mention On Electoral Reform | Mark Farrington -- Topsy.com http://www.markfarrington.co.uk/2010/05/on-electoral-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-84 Tweets that mention On Electoral Reform | Mark Farrington -- Topsy.com Mon, 10 May 2010 12:16:22 +0000 http://blog.markfarrington.co.uk/?p=90#comment-84 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by mark farrington. mark farrington said: New blog post: On Electoral Reform http://bit.ly/dcZAW8 [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by mark farrington. mark farrington said: New blog post: On Electoral Reform http://bit.ly/dcZAW8 [...]

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