Voting system

[dsmg]

I'm not in favour of UKIP at all but the voting system seems a little unfair. The Tories got three times as many votes as UKIP but 322 times more seats .

[betalucky]

Twas ever thus, the UK voting system is inherently rigged in favour of the big parties, and against getting proper representation of the voters, with relatively few votes having any bearing at all on the overall result.

People seem to like the fact that this normally results in an overall majority government, rather than a coalition. Personally i'd choose a coalition every time, but I'm certain i'm in the minority.

[pompeygun]

I'm with you betalucky.
Anyone else think that the Portsmouth South result was a case of Turkeys voting for Xmas?? What they've done to the yard as a political sop for the Scots & still they (tories) get in easily.

[BlueAdder]

I have been of voting age since 1954 and have voted in every Election since. In al that time I have never voted for somebody that won. That is the problem of being a non Tory in Portsmouth and surrounding area. Seems ridiculous that since it was built Leigh Park has had a Tory MP.
Where is the fairness in a system that has ignored my vote for all of my life?
I;m fuming.

[Scoular1]

Well it depends whether one feels that coalitions stunt or control the major parties.
You know what they say...a horse designed by a committee ends up being a camel.

[betalucky]

The more powerful leaders in my time - Thatcher, Blair in particular - could have done with a bit of stunting at key times. At least now the likes of Cameraon and Osborne have a bit of experience under their belt. i dread to think what would have happened if they'd had a free hand 5 years ago, coming in to power all full of pi55 and vinegar.

The majority of democratic governments in the world are coalitions or compromises of one kind or another, including the US most of the time, where the President rarely has the support of both Houses.

[kernow]

The referendum on changing the voting system, instigated by the Liberals last time, was an opportunity rejected by us, the majority of those that voted and those that didn't.
We've got what we want and deserve.

[geoffp]

The referendum on changing the voting system, instigated by the Liberals last time, was an opportunity rejected by us, the majority of those that voted and those that didn't.
We've got what we want and deserve.

I know it may be my age, but wasn't the previous referendum about the AV system, rather than PR? The two are not really the same.