An enjoyable and interesting read. Just picking up on the reference to PR: as is well known, Labour members recently voted in favour of PR at their recent conference. Support for electoral change is now strong among individual members and wider Labour voters. Polls also suggest the public is now generally in favour, though this clearly needs to be taken with some salt. Starmer has sat on the fence to some extent, and no doubt has one eye on his MPs. A poll published in September by The U.K. in A Changing Europe has around 52% of Labour MPs in favour of FPTP and 48% in favour of PR (where have I heard of that split before?). Clearly the ideal is for Starmer to concede that PR should go in the manifesto. This might mean no referendum on the issue (though not necessarily). In any event, a referendum would be existential for the Tories and they and their supporters in the Press would peddle any distortion and tell any lie to ensure the current system remains. What I think is pretty certain is that a mass of new Labour MPs at the next election is most likely to tip the balance in the Commons, as far as Labour is concerned at any rate; and of course nearly all minority parties favour it. Whatever happens in the next Parliament, assuming Labour can hold on to power for the following Parliament (with or without a majority) then electoral change is surely a fair bet. I’ve waited for this for a very long time!
Lots of valid points here, but It would be a reckless Georgian or Moldovan who tweaked the bear's tail, and this seems unlikely. And don't underestimate the British voters' ability to be swayed by largely right wing UK press.
An enjoyable and interesting read. Just picking up on the reference to PR: as is well known, Labour members recently voted in favour of PR at their recent conference. Support for electoral change is now strong among individual members and wider Labour voters. Polls also suggest the public is now generally in favour, though this clearly needs to be taken with some salt. Starmer has sat on the fence to some extent, and no doubt has one eye on his MPs. A poll published in September by The U.K. in A Changing Europe has around 52% of Labour MPs in favour of FPTP and 48% in favour of PR (where have I heard of that split before?). Clearly the ideal is for Starmer to concede that PR should go in the manifesto. This might mean no referendum on the issue (though not necessarily). In any event, a referendum would be existential for the Tories and they and their supporters in the Press would peddle any distortion and tell any lie to ensure the current system remains. What I think is pretty certain is that a mass of new Labour MPs at the next election is most likely to tip the balance in the Commons, as far as Labour is concerned at any rate; and of course nearly all minority parties favour it. Whatever happens in the next Parliament, assuming Labour can hold on to power for the following Parliament (with or without a majority) then electoral change is surely a fair bet. I’ve waited for this for a very long time!
I enjoy reading about intra-Tory bloodletting as much as the next man ....... but I recognise it’s just sport at this stage - nicely put.
Lots of valid points here, but It would be a reckless Georgian or Moldovan who tweaked the bear's tail, and this seems unlikely. And don't underestimate the British voters' ability to be swayed by largely right wing UK press.