I started a post about voter power a year ago and though it wasn't worth pressing "publish", but my next post about absent services makes it important.
For my vote, I think we have this PR system now:
Voters in Richmond Park are used to this and you see "Labour for Lib Dem" posters or similar at elections. The Labour vote of 5773 was less than the party membership in the constituency.
MPs are used to putting-up with large political parties that don't reflect their views.
They simply remain silent about views that the party does not want known.
Labour MPs have had to work with Blair and Corbyn; Conservative MPs have a Brexit split. One group can become the majority in a party, or another. The more right wing group in each political party, I think, are rather similar. They don't want the state to run compulsory insurance-like services such as social care or non-emergency health or unemployment pay or anything like that, but they keep quiet about it. Here's the proof:
https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/24911/zac_goldsmith/richmond_park/votes#welfare
Anyway this post was saved and not posted a year or two ago, and it seems relevant to the next one
http://election-richmond-park.blogspot.co.uk/2018/01/social-services-and-new-richmond-rapid.html
I think it's a problem that
If any of the 5773 labour voters change their mind in the next election, and want one less MP under the Conservative Party whip, I hope they come out and vote.
Here is the stuff I wrote a year or two ago without pressing "publish"
electoralcalculus.co.uk/cgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Richmond%20Park
cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=82&RPID=19098753
The voter power people seem very keen on more proportional representation between parties over a large area like the UK . An aim which, at the Greater London Authority, has led to party list candidates who refuse to do any work for a voter unless "a constituent", as the green list member's secretary fed-back to me, so I'm not keen, because he did nothing. (All I needed was a way to meet British Fashion Council to suggest how to help UK manufacturers. He needed to come-along. The conservative directly elected member and the liberal party list member turned me down as well)
The UK Alternative Vote referendum in 2011 was about more proportional representation in each constituency, achieved by giving fringe party voters a chance to re-allocate their vote after voting Labour or Green or whatever candidate is a likely number three four or more in each constutuency. Sadly, an expensive party advertising campaign blasted voters with untrue facts, each made clear as nonsense in The Independent at the time, but blasted loudly enough to win them the vote. I think it would be great to get alternative votes at least in the areas that voted for them in the referendum. Southwark is the example I know. There are probably others. Meanwhile, all UK MPs are elected by one constituency with third and fourth candidate voters unable to say "I wanted number 1 or 2 but also wanted to help choose who comes second next time".
Some people think we don't have a constituency PR system, including some of the 5,773 labour voters last time. I don't understand their reasoning - is it to cheer up the Labour cause and save the candidate's deposit? Or do they see Liberal and Conservative as so similar that there is no point encouraging one over the other? Maybe they see the Swingometer on TV and want to show support for a party that doesn't get in in their constituency. All sensible reasons to vote, but I just don't understand why 5773 people voted that way when the Lib / Con margin is so narrow.
For my vote, I think we have this PR system now:
- Vote for one of the top two candidates in any marginal constituency
- Vote for a favourite candidate in a non-marginal constituency, just to save their deposit and encourage.
Voters in Richmond Park are used to this and you see "Labour for Lib Dem" posters or similar at elections. The Labour vote of 5773 was less than the party membership in the constituency.
MPs are used to putting-up with large political parties that don't reflect their views.
They simply remain silent about views that the party does not want known.
Labour MPs have had to work with Blair and Corbyn; Conservative MPs have a Brexit split. One group can become the majority in a party, or another. The more right wing group in each political party, I think, are rather similar. They don't want the state to run compulsory insurance-like services such as social care or non-emergency health or unemployment pay or anything like that, but they keep quiet about it. Here's the proof:
https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/24911/zac_goldsmith/richmond_park/votes#welfare
Anyway this post was saved and not posted a year or two ago, and it seems relevant to the next one
http://election-richmond-park.blogspot.co.uk/2018/01/social-services-and-new-richmond-rapid.html
I think it's a problem that
- council social services don't exist for most of us (nor pay a decent care home fee for those who run out of money)
- NHS services for people with dementia or learning difficulties barely exist, and the home support part of the service seems not to exist. That's the service based at Barnes Hospital which is being redeveloped for housing - the subject of the last post
- The new Hounslow and Richmond health trust and it's Rapid Response and re-ablement service for people leaving hospital in Richmond doesn't seem to exist either, or at least not on a bank holiday when West Middlesex hospital tried to use them
If any of the 5773 labour voters change their mind in the next election, and want one less MP under the Conservative Party whip, I hope they come out and vote.
Here is the stuff I wrote a year or two ago without pressing "publish"
MP Election results in Richmond Park
voterpower.org.uk/richmond-parkelectoralcalculus.co.uk/cgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Richmond%20Park
cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=82&RPID=19098753
The voter power people seem very keen on more proportional representation between parties over a large area like the UK . An aim which, at the Greater London Authority, has led to party list candidates who refuse to do any work for a voter unless "a constituent", as the green list member's secretary fed-back to me, so I'm not keen, because he did nothing. (All I needed was a way to meet British Fashion Council to suggest how to help UK manufacturers. He needed to come-along. The conservative directly elected member and the liberal party list member turned me down as well)
The UK Alternative Vote referendum in 2011 was about more proportional representation in each constituency, achieved by giving fringe party voters a chance to re-allocate their vote after voting Labour or Green or whatever candidate is a likely number three four or more in each constutuency. Sadly, an expensive party advertising campaign blasted voters with untrue facts, each made clear as nonsense in The Independent at the time, but blasted loudly enough to win them the vote. I think it would be great to get alternative votes at least in the areas that voted for them in the referendum. Southwark is the example I know. There are probably others. Meanwhile, all UK MPs are elected by one constituency with third and fourth candidate voters unable to say "I wanted number 1 or 2 but also wanted to help choose who comes second next time".
Some people think we don't have a constituency PR system, including some of the 5,773 labour voters last time. I don't understand their reasoning - is it to cheer up the Labour cause and save the candidate's deposit? Or do they see Liberal and Conservative as so similar that there is no point encouraging one over the other? Maybe they see the Swingometer on TV and want to show support for a party that doesn't get in in their constituency. All sensible reasons to vote, but I just don't understand why 5773 people voted that way when the Lib / Con margin is so narrow.
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