STATEMENT BY CAROLINE LUCAS MP
These are uncharted waters for all politicians. But this only makes it more important that Nick Clegg makes his decisions based on the clear steer given to him by voters.
In this election the British people have brought in a House of Commons in which a majority of MPs are from parties which support reform. A clear majority of people in the United Kingdom voted for reform of our political system. Therefore any arrangement between the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives must include genuine and comprehensive reform of the political system. A commission, inquiry, or any other delaying tactic will not be acceptable. There should be a referendum before the end of the year which includes options for a genuinely proportional system not the self-serving system of AV which is even less proportional. The people should be asked what voting system they would prefer. That is proper democracy.
The first past the post system has created a situation where people cannot vote positively for the candidate or party whose policies they most agree with. Instead, they are forced to vote in fear, working out how to vote to keep out the party furthest away from them in policy and values. This leaves us a grotesque democratic deficit and a poor basis on which to govern.
The Liberal Democrats must not be seduced by the trappings of power.
The people have voted for reform: Nick Clegg must not betray them.
Caroline Lucas
Leader
The Green Party
A group called Unlock Democracy has a petition for a fairer voting system in the UK. You can sign their petition by clicking (here)
"... they are forced to vote in fear, working out how to vote to keep out the party furthest awat from them in policy and values. ...."
ReplyDeleteProportional representation would not change this at all - indeed, is likely to make such an approach even more prevelant.
Can you explain how that would be please Morris?
ReplyDeleteVoting for a party, rather than for an individual, means that good individuals, who are appointed by the "successful" party may be too far down the list to secure appointment, depending on the propportion of the vote won by that party.
ReplyDeleteIt also means that where no party secures at least 50.1% of the total votes cast, then the hiatus of the last few days is likely to occur after every election.
Much depends on the exact form of PR chosen.