August Newsletter

Another undemocratic election result

Record numbers of wasted votes; a tiny minority wielding power in Westminster - once again, the British electorate has been cheated by First Past The Post (FPTP).

Electoral Reform Society research shows 22 million votes were wasted in June 2017; and that 6.5 million voters felt the need to vote tactically to get what they wanted. The rise of tactical voting websites during the election is even more recognition that FPTP frustrates, rather than reflects, voters' views.

And for power, the Conservatives rely on a party - the DUP - which gained less than 300,000 votes in total. Another irony. FPTP, we are told by its advocates, assures single-party majorities and governments, but with the second hung parliament in three elections, a tiny disproportionate party is kingmaker (contrast that with 2010, when we had nearly seven million votes or 23% of votes cast).

It's only the self-interest of the two main parties that perpetuates this rigged system.



Vince's reform pledge

It's great to see that Vince Cable has included political reform among his top five ambitions for the party. He says:

"Our political system is broken and no longer fit for purpose.

The House of Commons is unrepresentative and tribal.

The Lords are chosen by patronage, not the people.

The party funding system gives wealthy people undue influence.

English local government has been nationalised, creating the most centralised system of government in the Western world.

I want our party to be in the vanguard of demands for radical reform."



A look ahead to Autumn Conference (16-19 September)

LDER will be running an exhibition stall at the Bournemouth Conference, so do visit us. We are also holding our AGM on Sunday 17 September, 15:30-16:30 at the Balmoral Hotel, 11-13 Kerley Rd, Bournemouth, BH2 5DW.

Fuller details of our conference activities, and how you can get involved, will follow soon in our Conference Special newsletter.