The Conservative Party

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Müch obliged.

Touché :-)

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

And anachronistic

Problem with PR is that you could end up with situations like in Israel, where the more extreme parties hold the balance of power and set the agenda.

 

[bluethrunthru]

Problem with PR is that you could end up with situations like in Israel, where the more extreme parties hold the balance of power and set the agenda.

Like the DUP?

 

[aguero93:20]

Problem with PR is that you could end up with situations like in Israel, where the more extreme parties hold the balance of power and set the agenda.

Sinn Fein technically hold the balance of power here under PR, they're still on the opposition benches though.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Problem with PR is that you could end up with situations like in Israel, where the more extreme parties hold the balance of power and set the agenda.

Or like Germany, the most functional nation on the planet.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Or like Germany, the most functional nation on the planet.

Of course on the other hand the good thing about PR is that there is more scope for smaller parties instead of just two and where you have to be in one or the other to have any chance of power. Both Labour and the Tories are really 3 parties in one.

Like the DUP?

Exactly.

 

[robbieh]

Of course on the other hand the good thing about PR is that there is more scope for smaller parties instead of just two and where you have to be in one or the other to have any chance of power. Both Labour and the Tories are really 3 parties in one.


Exactly.

True. In Spain PSOE, Podemos and Izquierda Unida cover the same ground as our Labour Party.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Of course on the other hand the good thing about PR is that there is more scope for smaller parties instead of just two and where you have to be in one or the other to have any chance of power. Both Labour and the Tories are really 3 parties in one.

It’s more democratic, mate. That’s surely the most salient point.

Our present system has always been advanced by its acolytes as delivering more decisive government, but it has been principally responsible for the current inertia and talent deficit within our political system; which is, to all intents and purposes, utterly fucked.

You can’t defend the indefensible.

 

[George Hannah]

Or like Germany, the most functional nation on the planet.

Is functional good or bad for a nation?

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Is functional good or bad for a nation?

It’s discernibly better than dysfunctional, which is what we manifestly are.

 

[aguero93:20]

True. In Spain PSOE, Podemos and Izquierda Unida cover the same ground as our Labour Party.

Which is a good thing as you need consensus between parties before a government is formed, which generally weeds out the stupid policies and stops one party getting a decent majority and going on an ideological crusade.

It also lets the population pick which flavour of left or right they want.

 

[George Hannah]

It’s discernibly better than dysfunctional, which is what we manifestly are.

Oh you mean their government, I thought you might have meant as a nation they were the dullest on the planet.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

It’s discernibly better than dysfunctional, which is what we manifestly are.

Is that not more to do with the woeful quality of the front benches in both main parties rather than our electoral system though?

 

[aguero93:20]

Is that not more to do with the woeful quality of the front benches in both main parties rather than our electoral system though?

More parties = more competition and less chance to hide behind being one of the only two choices for government.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Is that not more to do with the woeful quality of the front benches in both main parties rather than our electoral system though?

What do you think is the root cause of that?

Me? I think it’s our political system.

Happy to hear any views to the contrary.

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

How long has she got before the knife goes in? Can't believe she's lasted this long tbh.

 

[George Hannah]

What do you think is the root cause of that?
Me? I think it’s our political system.
Happy to hear any views to the contrary.

Well, first past the post has kept the extreme right contained, unlike most of Europe.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Well, first past the post has kept the extreme right contained, unlike most of Europe.

Depends on your definition of extreme right.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

What do you think is the root cause of that?

Me? I think it’s our political system.

Happy to hear any views to the contrary.

I think it's largely to do with the way the parties, and thereby parliaments, have become command-and-control organisations where you have to be "on-message. It's rare these days to see a free-thinker get into a position of power. And when I was younger you had politicians who had genuine conviction and believed in something, unlike people like the Milibands, May and Cameron. At least, despite his many, many faults, Corbyn actually believes in something.

Can you look at the government front bench and think of any of them "Yes, they're politicians of real and genuine conviction?"

 

[George Hannah]

Depends on your definition of extreme right.

Well if it looks like Bojo & Mogg it'll keep them out too.