this important referendum is nearly upon us and i thought it would be interesting explore the views held by this BB

after much thought, i have decided to vote against AV
i do not dispute that "first past post the post" is in some ways unfair - so is life and golf! - but i am far from convinced that AV is intrinsically much better

i would rather have a stronger gov't of some hue than a weak coalition or mps (and parties) who have felt obliged to trim their sails to offend the least number and thus gain a few more secondary votes

full-blown PR is at least "fair", but even then, there are many examples of horribly weak and unstable gov'ts, which is also pretty disastrous

finally, and of greatest concern, i suspect the turnout for this referendum will be +/-35% at best and probably a lot lower in many parts of the country
it follows that those who vote in this will be (relative) "activists" for lack of a better word, for the run-of-the-mill voter will find the whole thing too complicated and voting on it all, too much of a fag
thus, if there is a change in our voting system, then it is very likely to have been pushed through by <20% of the electorate - is that fair?

Libs appear (without a result being announced yet) as predicted are getting stuffed in Wales.

Cardiff Central at general election was Libs 51% , Lab 21% , Cons 14% , Others 14% and now the Libs are saying its too close to call in yesterdays Welsh Assembley election ... says it all.

Dil,

Did your vote count?

mine did! ... i voted NO and won .... fred and his gang have been given a good towelling by those who bothered to vote, but it will be interesting to watch how well the coalition now hangs together - or not as the case may be

Cynic,

Cast your mind back to how long it took for the serfs to get their vote or women's suffrage took.

Within 15years there will be a PR system for election of government.

But I am interested to see the outcome of Clegg and the Libs and how long this coalition takes to unravel.

But who in their right mind would shake hands with Cameron.

Don't you just love seeing those sanctimonious Liberals squirm :)

Yes my vote counted Fred as did everyone else's who voted , missing your point here.

with you there Land of the B

and you can add the sanctimonious bbc - predictions of 1,000 lost tory seats - and the reality is hundreds of gains

Dil.

Just baiting, now barbs this time.

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In England, I must admit that I am a little surprised how well the tory vote held up, but not of the Libs crash.

I think the latter has dug its own grave, the former are still digging.

That may relate some of them back to their previous membership
base.

Also shows a social split in England.

===============

Wonder what the election results would have been if the election was held in 6-9months time.

================

I wonder when Lansley will be dumped.

Our local Liberals in Wimbledon are the most duplicitous of politicians, and that's saying something as lies and distortion are bred in most politicians, local and national.
They richly deserve to be annihilated.

Vince Cable has attacked the Lib Dems' Tory coalition partners as "ruthless, calculating and very tribal" but insisted the coalition would continue.

I hope he is right. It is what we need at the moment.

It would seems a very reasonable assessment.

Tribal often means primitive in search of leadership and obeying their "chronological" elders.

The present cabinet fits the bill nicely.

How old is Ashcroft?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1384465/Worse-Michael-Foot-Ed-Miliband-faces-calls-change-polls-promise-turns-nightmare.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Worse than Michael Foot! Ed Miliband faces calls for change after polls promise turns to nightmare

Ed Miliband is facing calls to change his strategy after a dismal result in the local elections that was worse than that achieved by Michael Foot.

Labour won more than 800 extra council seats but recorded its worst performance in Scotland for 80 years and failed to connect with key swing voters in Southern England.
Senior colleagues had said Mr Miliband needed to win 40 per cent of the votes, but he fell well short.

With four in ten votes counted, Labour had won just 37 per cent.
Several members of the Shadow Cabinet are now expected to tell the Labour leader he needs to craft a more coherent message on the economy and do more to take on the Tories if he is to have any chance of securing power.

His performance compared unfavourably with Mr Foot, who picked up 988 seats in 1981 when Margaret Thatchers government was making unpopular spending cuts similar to those introduced by David Cameron.

Mr Foot secured 41 per cent of the vote that year but was heavily defeated in the 1983 general election

I see the tories story in Scotland is one of success.

How many seats did Labour pick up overall.

I await with interest the next round especially after the the economy crashes and unemployment soars.

The world thinks Georgie boy's economy that they are flogging of Stirling.

How many crows make a false dawn.

Thank god for Alex and the SNP- full autonomy to Sctland will save England 24 bn a year in handouts.

Get that vote out Alex.

well glad to see common sense prevailed and the no vote won

and to anyone considering voting for the lib dems - apart from a myriad of stupid policies dont forget they would open the immigration flood gates which as labour were doing will finish off this country once and fall - i have nothing personal against immigrants but a lot of them come here and take the piss, additionally uk is only a small country, infrastructure can not take anymore, we are skint thanks to labour, they have been taken the majority of jobs et cetera

and labour - what useless hypocrites - they run the country in to the ground living on credit - giving uk money to countries that use it incorrectly or who are better off than the uk e.g. china - labour and those 2 idiots crazy nut blair and brown the imbecile have ruined the uk

brown mr prudent - thats a laff if it wasnt so sad!!!! LOL! ps dont ask him to sell any gold you may have spare - what a twot he is!

i could go on and on about labour - but i can not think of one thing they did that was a success and that they actually carried out correct due dilligence before implementing anything - idiots

sorry the typos - in a hurry just now

The 10 local authorities which voted YES were Lambeth, Southwark, Islington, Camden, Haringey and Hackney in London along with Oxford, Cambridge, Glasgow Kelvin and Edinburgh Central.

430 NO AND 10 YES

take a look and read about ealing hospital . immigrants are destoying the foundations of the uk . the planet is being destoyed faster than people think.breeding out of control STOP THE BENEFITS FOR HAVING KIDS

Tanker,

It does seem a pity that some parents were allowed to breed.

I have a "feeling" that when the Scots feel the consequences of Georgie's economic policies then Salmond may have a walk over in a referendum on further devolution.

But of course it would mean closer relationship with the EU where the Scots are readily acceptable


Cameron already has his eyes bulging at the thought.

I wonder if Wales will move in the same direction.

Forgot. I now realise what Cameron meant by devolution of power to the local control and administration.


How many more cock ups is he going to be responsible for.