tobyaw: (Default)
Toby Atkin-Wright ([personal profile] tobyaw) wrote2010-05-12 08:44 pm
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Legitimacy

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.

[identity profile] hobbitomm.livejournal.com 2010-05-12 10:20 pm (UTC)(link)
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').

[identity profile] sharikkamur.livejournal.com 2010-05-12 10:39 pm (UTC)(link)
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.
ggreig: (Topper)

[personal profile] ggreig 2010-05-13 10:42 am (UTC)(link)
You'll be suggesting a loyalty card next...

[identity profile] hobbitomm.livejournal.com 2010-05-13 12:06 pm (UTC)(link)
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!

[identity profile] hobbitomm.livejournal.com 2010-05-13 11:12 pm (UTC)(link)
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

[identity profile] hobbitomm.livejournal.com 2010-05-13 12:00 pm (UTC)(link)
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!