tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post5786854549810340948..comments2024-03-26T09:38:39.888+00:00Comments on Borthlas: Struggling with the spinJohn Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-5282877370100264702010-07-22T12:46:43.199+01:002010-07-22T12:46:43.199+01:00It may be fun, but it’s pretty unedifying. I’ve ne...It may be fun, but it’s pretty unedifying. I’ve never seen a party leadership being so openly and blatantly manipulated by another party, but the reality is that the LibDems have got themselves into a hole over AV and they’re still digging. What are they up to? This could be a referendum that fails to muster even a steering committee for a Yes campaign. I certainly agree that there’s no urgency about the timing of such a referendum, but I’d like to question why are we having a referendum at all? Between 1994 and 1999 the voting system for the European Parliament changed from FPTP to a form of PR without a referendum. When the nation voted in the 1997 referendum the vote was on the principle to establish the Assembly. The electorate was not asked to express a view on the voting system to be used. Yet it resulted in elections under a hybrid system previously unseen in these islands. Significant constitutional reform is mooted for the House of Lords. They may or may not be subject to a referendum – but if they are put before the people I’m willing to bet that the question will be on the principle of establishing an elected chamber rather than on the detail of the electoral system to be used. What is so sacrosanct about a Westminster election that it’s voting system needs the sanction of a referendum before democratic changes can be introduced? The LibDems have been sold a pig in a poke of gigantic proportions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com