Political Reform

The case for political reform is now unanswerable. With polls suggesting three party politics is firmly here, but predicting no link at al between votes cast and seats gained, a new voting system is a must for the next parliament.

Campaigns such as Power2010, Vote for A Change have looked at what needs to change and concluded that voting reform is the top priority, but that much more needs to change if we are to achieve a modern democracy.

I have long called for PR at all levels of government. At local level there can be no excuse for a system that in Hertfordshire last year returned 55 Tory councillors on the 77 seat county council. The Tory vote was less than half, and turnout was below 40%. So they get 71% of the seats based on the support of about 15% of the population, many of whom would have stayed at home in part because they thought their vote would not count.

Wales and Scotland now have proportional systems. Why cannot the rest of us? Because the old parties want to keep it a two party system.

Power 2010 Campaign.

38 Degrees Website.

Message from Pam Giddy of Power 2010.