tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post3934446618639398308..comments2024-03-26T09:38:39.888+00:00Comments on Borthlas: Sacking MPsJohn Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-33829184649107672412012-05-01T10:10:26.963+01:002012-05-01T10:10:26.963+01:00In Venezuela even the President can be recalled! A...In Venezuela even the President can be recalled! And it happened, although he then soundly won the ensuing elections.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-43838800577255087462012-04-27T16:28:12.735+01:002012-04-27T16:28:12.735+01:00John - agree with your comments and also on the de...John - agree with your comments and also on the desirability of a recall mechanism.<br /><br />In my opinion the problems you describe can be fairly easily overcome. As in Recall Laws in the States, the two keys are:<br /><br />1. To hold a recall election, the required number of signatures have to be collected within a limited timeframe from the initial filing — in the US usually 60 days. This will not be possible unless there is a fairly substantive groundswell against the person in question.<br />2. If at the recall election the sitting MP is not recalled, i.e. does not lose the recall election, then no further recalls can be triggered for the rest of his/her term. This stops any frivolous or partisan recall actions.<br /><br />Where there is a will, there is a way!Paul Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01021606156107333019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-62963576055725540612012-04-27T12:06:10.575+01:002012-04-27T12:06:10.575+01:00As I said at the opening of the post, the idea is ...As I said at the opening of the post, the idea is one which appeals to me in principle. But it's one of those issues where what sounds like an attractive idea is full of practical difficulties. It is, as Emlyn says, open to mischief making; and as Cibwr says, you either make it too easy - in which case we'll be in a permanent election - or else you make it too difficult - in which case it's just window dressing.<br /><br />But there is, nevertheless, a certain appeal to it. Take the question of tuition fees. In the 2010 General Election, not introducing fees was one of the big promises of the Lib Dems, and probably garnered them a lot of votes; yet once elected, they did exactly what they said they would not do. (And I could equally, here, point at AMs elected in 2007 on a similar promise, so as not to pick just on one party.) Would a power of recall for politicians who act in that way be an effective deterrent to such behaviour? And isn't that the real point - not that we should actually recall politicians very often, but that the knowledge that they could be recalled for breaking specific and explicit promises would discourage them from doing that?John Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-56659084978710522812012-04-27T11:43:27.704+01:002012-04-27T11:43:27.704+01:00I have problems with recall, particularly with pro...I have problems with recall, particularly with proportional systems. I think if you go down that road you need strict criteria and a reasonable percentage to sign up to it. The problem is that you either make it easy and so most of the recalls will be just political or you make it really difficult and its just window dressing.Cibwrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621705905770341542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-2393117294525230512012-04-27T10:30:08.989+01:002012-04-27T10:30:08.989+01:00I'm really not sure about the idea of recall e...I'm really not sure about the idea of recall elections.<br /><br />(1) the electorate must choose at the ballot box whom they wish to represent them for the *whole* term; the one they elect is ultimately their choice and their responsibility.<br /><br />(2) more importantly is the trigger for recall elections. As you rightly suggest, many representatives will be unpopular from the moment they're elected: tight 4 way contests, moderate turnout = MP or AM voted for by a fifth of the electorate, rejected by the rest.<br /><br />This is even more apparent in local council elections. Many Carmarthenshire councillors were elected by less than a fifth of the electorate. The second member for Carmarthen Town South received 369 votes out of a possible 2660 - he's been representing the 86% of the electorate who didn't vote for him for the past 4 years.<br /><br />What of mischief makers who wish to shut down real democracy? If we had recall elections, how many times would Nick Clegg have had to return to the stump in Sheffield over the past 2 years?Emlyn Uwch Cychhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03384157218244458970noreply@blogger.com