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Category: Voting systems and the electoral process

No boundary changes and no AV: EdM is proving to be a lucky LAB leader

No boundary changes and no AV: EdM is proving to be a lucky LAB leader

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Henry G Manson on how the Tories have made GE2015 easier for Ed There is a bit of talk as to whether certain Conservative MP are able to be endorsed by UKIP and stand with two party emblems next to their name on the ballots paper. This is now possible under updated election law. This week Peter Bone MP took to the airwaves arguing for joint Conservative and UKIP candidates to take advantage of this: “There was a tremendous Conservative…

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Electoral reform – Coming sooner than you think?

Electoral reform – Coming sooner than you think?

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A few days ago, Simon Hughes speaking in the Financial Times, about potential future coalition negotiations in 2015, said “If the time did come for more coalition negotiations, the experience of coalition the first time will be clearly taken on board when we think through what we would do a second time. “The constitutional reform agenda and particularly reform of the Lords would have to be a part of the package.” Now a hung parliament is a possibility, especially if the polls continue to narrow…

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A reminder – the main cause of pro-LAB bias in the electoral system is not the boundaries but lower turnout levels in LAB-held seats

A reminder – the main cause of pro-LAB bias in the electoral system is not the boundaries but lower turnout levels in LAB-held seats

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The new boundaries wouldn’t have solved main driver of pro-LAB bias in system – lower turnout in LAB seats. See chart twitter.com/MSmithsonPB/st… — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) January 15, 2013 I’ve published this chart before which is based on data prepared by Professor John Curtice of Strathclyde University and others after the 2010 general election and seeks to show one of the big drivers of “electoral bias”. The first set of data shows the average electorate in LAB and CON constituencies…

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November 15th 2012 – A slap in the face for politics

November 15th 2012 – A slap in the face for politics

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What are we to make of the dismal turnout? The November 2012 elections were meant to go down in history as the start of a brave new era of direct democracy. They will go down in history but not for that reason. The May referendums put the first dent in the plan, when all the cities bar Bristol voted down the mayoral option. The second, and more significant, hit was delivered by the mass abstentions on Thursday. While a low…

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How the supplementary vote electoral system deprived the first-past-the-post winner, John Prescott, of victory

How the supplementary vote electoral system deprived the first-past-the-post winner, John Prescott, of victory

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How “first past the post” winner Prescott became a loser. The 2nd preferences splitagainst him. bbc.in/UvwQ5L twitter.com/MSmithsonPB/st… — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) November 16, 2012 Only problem John: YOUR government designed this system in 2000 Looking at the outcome in Humberside you can perhaps forgive John Prescott for being so angry about the voting system. For if this had operated on first past the post he would have been celebrating his victory tonight. I wonder whether he recalls how in the…

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And now election junkies we have the Police and Crime Commissioner elections

And now election junkies we have the Police and Crime Commissioner elections

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Just a week to go – how many will vote? In an effort to boost turnout in next Thursday’s elections which are being held in all parts of England outside London the Home Office has launched a multi-media advertising campaign, including the TV one above, to raise awareness and help boost turnout. At the moment there is little betting interest apart from on how many will actually bother to go to the polling stations. The big political interest next Thursday…

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Henry G Manson asks: Can MPs and money mix?

Henry G Manson asks: Can MPs and money mix?

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  This week a new website called www.searchthemoney.com has gone online to show what different Conservative MPs are earning or are receiving in donations. The unions behind this clearly see attack as the best form of defence and hope to highlight the link between the finance sector, big business and the Conservative Party. As their adverts on these pages show Michael Gove has already raked in £462,223 above his ample salary. It’s actually a very handy site but I think they should add…

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Dave’s majority challenge: Part 1 Tactical Voting

Dave’s majority challenge: Part 1 Tactical Voting

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Michael Ashcroft polling September 2011 Could this impact on Tory hopes? (This is the first of a series of articles looking at the Tory chances of winning a majority. This first one looks at tactical voting) One of the big challenges that the blues have had to deal with in recent general elections has been anti-Tory tactical voting in key seats. What happens is that voters choose the contender in their own constituency who seems most likely to beat the…

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