Tory MP calls for proportional voting system in EU Elections to be abolished

benjamin · 06-06-2008, 01:23 PM

There are various different forms of PR - the one Blair and Prescott chose for EU and devolved elections was (predictably) the one which gave maximum power to party heirarchies and minimum influence to the voters.

Under other PR systems like those used in Malta, both parts of Ireland, Scottish local councils and even within the Church of England, voters rank individual candidates according to preference who are then elected according to how many individual votes they personally have.

The voter can choose to give high preferences to all the candidates from one party, or a mix of parties, or all the men/women candidates, all the local candidates. This results in a similar spread of candidates from each party as votes were cast (PR) but also means an unpopular - say - Tory MP can be kicked out even while the Tories gain seats or a popular one can be saved while the party is routed.

In the event of a vacancy it can be dealt with either by "count-back" of how the votes cast would have filled the seat if the departed candidate were removed, by by-election, co-option or by leaving the seat vacant.

PR doesn't need to mean unaccountability - it just does when New Labour are allowed to get their hands on it.

Britannist · 12-06-2008, 01:41 AM

More about Conservative MP Mr. Daniel Kawczynski at:

Tory MP of Polish origin calls for new Bank Holiday to mark Polish contribution"

12-06-2008, 01:41 AM	#42 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 22,896	More More about Conservative MP Mr. Daniel Kawczynski at: Tory MP of Polish origin calls for new Bank Holiday to mark Polish contribution"

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06-06-2008, 01:23 PM	#41 (permalink)
benjamin Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 14	There are various different forms of PR - the one Blair and Prescott chose for EU and devolved elections was (predictably) the one which gave maximum power to party heirarchies and minimum influence to the voters. Under other PR systems like those used in Malta, both parts of Ireland, Scottish local councils and even within the Church of England, voters rank individual candidates according to preference who are then elected according to how many individual votes they personally have. The voter can choose to give high preferences to all the candidates from one party, or a mix of parties, or all the men/women candidates, all the local candidates. This results in a similar spread of candidates from each party as votes were cast (PR) but also means an unpopular - say - Tory MP can be kicked out even while the Tories gain seats or a popular one can be saved while the party is routed. In the event of a vacancy it can be dealt with either by "count-back" of how the votes cast would have filled the seat if the departed candidate were removed, by by-election, co-option or by leaving the seat vacant. PR doesn't need to mean unaccountability - it just does when New Labour are allowed to get their hands on it.