Do we get the government we want?

By jonpugh | Sunday, April 25, 2010, 08:06

Some readers will be under the impression that we get the government we want, unfortunately this is not quite true in the case of UK elections.

Due to the particular "first past the post' election system and the number of people who actually take part in national elections in this country we tend to be governed by the largest minority.

In the last election more people didn't vote for Labour but the Labour party formed the government.

Below shows the results of the last national election:

Labour 9.55million votes

Conservative 8.77million votes

Liberal Democrat 5.98million votes

Other political parties total: 2.45 million votes

This shows that of the 26.75 million who voted 17.2 million did not vote for Labour. If you add those who didn't vote which would be approximately 17.65 million then a total of 34,85 million did not vote for Labour - yet Labour have been in government since the last election. It has been the same story for all national elections regardless of who ends up in government.

Re-post Write a story

Ads by Google

Comments

I think "upstarts" as you call them have a growing voice in our society. UKIP came second in the last national vote beating both Labour and Lib Dems into 3rd and 4th places respectively. There is a growing movement of people who are fed up of the tired old and stale politics of the 3 old parties, people are looking for something fresh new and different. They are looking for straight talking and less PC something that Lib/Lab/Comn are not offering.

The country is in massive debt and about to collapse, there needs to be massive cuts now or we will end up like Greece, Lib/Lab/Con know this but they just won't come clean. A hung parliament is desperately needed to ensure consensus politices reigns. Hopefully we can have a new election in 12 months or so under a reformed system where millions of voters views will make a difference. A system of Single transferable vote or Alternative Vote Plus would be better for all.

By Mike_Amor at 00:19 on 04/05/10
Report
I agree with much of what GrumpySam states in his last comment. The Rolle College issue being an excellent example. The problems outlined by GrumpySam re big business etc are not isolated from Government. Industries evolve, and some die, because of deliberate decisions made by Government as a result of either ideological beliefs and/or the power of the lobby groups that influence them (and give some ex-minister jobs after leaving public office).
It is the established order that is threatened by change such as the possible introduction of PR. The idea that upstarts like the Greens, UKIP or the BNP could have more influence on how the country is run threatens the establishments cosy lifestyles. Remember that if PR comes in then those three parties and many other colourful figures and ideas will start to change the democratic landscape of the UK.

By jonpugh at 16:15 on 26/04/10
Report
I just don't buy the argument about 'Hung/Balanced Parliaments' being a problem. Germany has one and is one of the most highly successful countries in the world. The other once in a lifetime opportunity here would be to get rid of our geriatric political system for something fresh and more importantly FAIR! Just look at East Devon and Devon. Many people in Exmouth wanted Rolle College to be purchased, but whilst this had been agreed by the LibDem administration a Conservative who had no constituency in Exmouth overturned the decision. It seems to me that the first past the post system leads to a camouflaged form of dictatorship. A major review of our system could mean that every vote counted and every shade of opinion was listened to. Another example - Governments are frequently asked to bail out these various Masters of the Universe like bankers, and now airlines, but when industries crash, usually because of poor or short sighted management, there is little protection for those working in that industry. If our system did not make us so dependant on the outcome of a few marginal seats governments might be less influenced by the Murdoch and other right wing Press and look after the whole country, not just the privileged establishment.

By GrumpySam at 16:15 on 25/04/10
Report
Heidi suggests that on the evidence she has read a hung parliament would be a disaster and would not lead to change. I find that contradictory. If it was a "disaster" that in itself is change.
Having lost our industry, endured recessions, seen bankers (I accept this is a generalisation) exploit the financial sector and investors etc, politicians take us to war based on untruths etc etc I think "Disaster" is word that could be used to describe the current situation.

By jonpugh at 07:57 on 25/04/10
Report
All of the financial press points to the fact that a hung parliament would be a disaster for our recovery. It wouldn't lead to a change, just more of the same.

By Heidi_girl at 01:33 on 25/04/10
Report