MORE POLITICAL PARTIES LESS DEMOCRACY?
Is the electoral system in the UK really democratic or fair? Over the last few years an upsurge of lots of new political parties have appeared, which as a democracy should be a good thing as it, should take us away from the three party system. Which has been in the main over the last hundred years a choice of either a Labour or Conservative government but instead of breaking this mould it has re-enforced it! In the next general election all those who think this Labour government should go will have a lot of choice, yet this choice could let the government you no longer want back in simply because the opposition vote is so fragmented. So the only party capable of beating Labour is the Conservative party, I say that purely in practical terms not in any partisan way, as the Conservatives are the next largest party This then makes the UK a stronger two party system and this can not be good for democracy. Voting for any other party then the Conservatives will under our present electoral system let Labour in for a third term, if this happens and more political parties start appearing, which are not offshoots of Labour after the next election, Labour could be in government for ever!
Other systems like proportional representation may look a fair option but the one used in European election where you vote for party not an individual is very undemocratic, this system will and has lead to a political elite who are not answerable to the public but just to their party. Maybe it is time to make voting compulsory or have double elections like in other countries i.e. first vote to select top two then vote again on the top two or as someone suggested have on the ballot paper a box with NON of those listed, if the latter got most votes you have a new election with completely new set of candidates. Mind you I cannot see any party voting for a different electoral system if they are in power it would be like Turkey’s looking forward to Christmas.
Lets look at the facts:
Turnout for the 2001 General Election in England was 59%
Of those that voted 41% Labour 35% Conservative 19% Libdems 5% others
Total Population of England approx 25% Labour 21% Conservative 11% Libdems
At present MP’s In England 323 Labour 165 Conservative 40 Libdems
Martin Clarke 118 East Street Sittingbourne Kent ME10 4RX