On 20/01/2021 17:34, Fredxx wrote:
On 20/01/2021 17:23, nightjar wrote:

snip

Which means we have ended up with a system created by a few powerful
people for their own benefit, that has slowly, usually with great
resistance, been subject to some reforms.

Had the system been removed completely and re-written, we might have
one that actually reflects the will of the people. Instead, we have a
system where one party can hold 56.2% of the seats in the Commons with
only 43.6% of the popular vote.

If you can think of a way an accountable MP can be elected be my guest.

That would depend upon what you want them to be accountable for and to
whom.

If the existing system gives the accountability you want, then the
answer would be local list PR. That could be virtually indistinguishable
from the existing system. The difference would only come when allocating
seats. Each party would get the same proportion of seats in Parliament
as they got of the popular vote. That would, of course, mean that
results could not be announced until every constituency had completed
its count.

Constituencies are ranked according to the percentage of the local vote
each party got, with the highest ranking being allocated to each party
first. Safe seats would remain safe seats, but some marginal seats might
not get the same MP as they would have under the FPTP system. Instead
that seat could be awarded to a runner up. The constituencies would
still get an MP that had appeared on the local ballot.

There would probably need to be some tweaking of the basic model, to
allow for the fact that we have four nations, three of which have
national parties. However, we are not likely to get PR, as no party in
power is going to sign up to a system that would see the end of one
party majority governments.

The alternative in countries that have PR is that it's jobs for the boys
with no accountability towards those who elected him or her.

I would far preferred STV, and I feel the referendum result signified
more a hatred towards the Lib Dems rather than actually understanding
the STV system.

We also have a completely unelected upper house, whose members
comprise some there by right of birth, those who hold high rank in the
clergy and the rest being political appointees.

I especially dislike the right religious figures having tenure, but feel
in many cases the upper house has shown more common sense than the
elected side.Â* While I would like some reform I actually like the
present system, where the upper house can only delay a bill and pass it
back for reconsideration.

I've nothing in principle against the House of Lords. I quite like the
tradition. I was simply pointing out that they, unlike the EU
Commission, they really are unelected.


--
Colin Bignell