Legitimacy

[tobyaw]

There are fifty nine Westminster seats contested in Scotland. The Liberal Democrats hold eleven seats with 18.9% of the vote; the Conservatives hold a single seat with 16.7% of the vote. Together the coalition government gained 35.6% of the Scottish vote.

In 2005 Labour formed a government with 35.3% of the vote across the UK.

Comments

[hobbitomm.livejournal.com]

But it's also notable that a great fuss was made about the possibility of a 'Coalition of the Defeated'- a rainbow alliance, if you would, to keep the Tories out. But that alliance would have had at least 54.3% of the vote (Labour+Liberals+SNP+PC). I think realistically, any coalition Government will have over 50% of the vote. As they would need to, if electoral reform went forward far enough. I don't wish to be ruled on the whims of a minority!

Of course, I'm also in favour of making voting compulsary (in the Australian fashion) with a fine for failure to exercise it (even if it comes in as a 'none of the above').

[sharikkamur.livejournal.com]

I've thought for some time that voting should be compulsory - although in all fairness I'd definitely want the 'none of the above' option in that case.

If this is the start of sensible coalition politics then I welcome it. I just hope it lasts.

[tobyaw]

The democrat in me thinks that everybody should vote. The libertarian in me thinks that nobody should be forced to vote.

Maybe adding benefits for voters would be a good compromise? Perhaps government and council services should only be available to those who bother to turn out at elections. If you want to use a job centre, swimming pool, or library, make sure you turn out to vote! (Actually that might appeal to immigrant-obsessed Labour voters and Daily Mail readers!)

[ggreig]

You'll be suggesting a loyalty card next...

[hobbitomm.livejournal.com]

I think a compulsary vote is fine. You don't have to cast your vote FOR anyone, afterall, either by voting for 'None of the Above', or by spoiling your vote.

Voting is a duty- it's part of the price we pay for the benefits of representation. Hence why I voted in a constituency where really my vote is entirely irrelevant!

[tobyaw]

Compulsory votes in the general election? In the European elections? In the Scottish government election? In local council elections? In community council elections? In NHS Health Board elections?

People could get pretty bored of having to vote in elections in which they have no interest.

[hobbitomm.livejournal.com]

I meant in General Ekections, but actually, I'd throw Devolved and European in with those. Course, as much as possible those should be amalgamated onto the same polling day

[tobyaw]

The rainbow coalition was doomed to fail; there is a strong dislike of electoral reform among Labour MPs (particularly in Scotland), so Labour could never have delivered the change that Brown offered to the Liberals, and Scottish Labour MPs refused to work in a government with the SNP.

I think there would also have been a wider, more divisive issue: with the SNP and Plaid Cymru in a coalition, with the stated aim of preserving funding for Scotland and Wales, the special deals involved ('pork barrel politics') would have fostered resentment in England, and perhaps done major damage to English voters' readiness to accept coalition government.

[hobbitomm.livejournal.com]

I agree that I think that the alleged 'Rainbow' Alliance would have been doomed to failure, simply because that sort of multi party coalitions are fundamentally unstable. I don't entirely agree, however, that the SNP and PC would have actually held out for preserved funding for Scotland and Wales- at least on this occasion. I suspect that the bribe for them would have been precisely the same as the bribe to the Lib Dems- voting reform. That would (if Alex Salmond was sensible, which I agree is open to debate) have been majorly to their advantages in future elections- it's ludicrous that the SNP can be the largest party at Holyrood but only have 6 MPs.

Now, the Scots Labour MPs may well have objected (I'd have been surprised if they hadn't), but a well run Whips department can usually keep that sort of thing under control, with a mixture of threats and bribes!