Who will you vote for?

[Stuart M]

In theory, I concede they should. In practice, the prospect fills me with disgust. So, I'd rather stick with our existing brand of "democracy" which, at present, excludes them.

Only, it doesn't. One of the many millions of problems with first past the post voting, is that it creates large "broad church" political parties. In such parties, the extremists can happily lurk, and get closer to the levers of power than they ever should. For example, the Militant Tendency in the Labour Party in the 80s, the extremist Eurosceptics during John Major's PM'ship, or the current US Vice President.

Having these types actually visible in a Parliament allows them to be exposed, and when that happens they usually run into trouble quite quickly. For example, the Scottish Socialists in the current Scottish parliament, who've basically spent the past 5 years in-fighting.

[jivecat]

Only, it doesn't. One of the many millions of problems with first past the post voting, is that it creates large "broad church" political parties. In such parties, the extremists can happily lurk, and get closer to the levers of power than they ever should. For example, the Militant Tendency in the Labour Party in the 80s, the extremist Eurosceptics during John Major's PM'ship, or the current US Vice President.

Having these types actually visible in a Parliament allows them to be exposed, and when that happens they usually run into trouble quite quickly. For example, the Scottish Socialists in the current Scottish parliament, who've basically spent the past 5 years in-fighting.

Good points. If there were small parties with a reasonable chance of having elected members such politicians would gravitate towards them. As it is, they need to remain within the mainstream parties to have any hope of having power. They may cause trouble but I think the damage is limited.

I think, sadly, a lot of people would vote for BMP candidates if they felt that it would not be a wasted vote. Despite its appearance of smooth race relations, you don't have to scratch very deep to find undercurrents of racial tension in a town like Leicester, for example.

[David Bailey]

Only, it doesn't. One of the many millions of problems with first past the post voting, is that it creates large "broad church" political parties. In such parties, the extremists can happily lurk, and get closer to the levers of power than they ever should. For example, the Militant Tendency in the Labour Party in the 80s, the extremist Eurosceptics during John Major's PM'ship, or the current US Vice President.

Having these types actually visible in a Parliament allows them to be exposed, and when that happens they usually run into trouble quite quickly.

I dunno - look at Le Pen, the guy came second in the last French election...

Extremists (almost by definition) are fanatics - so they'll always be proportionately more powerful than other normal members, who have lives. The electoral system used won't change that - but I agree that more transparency makes it more difficult to justify their nuttiness.

For example, every interview done with UKIP makes them look more and more loony.

And one of the dumbest decisions the Tories made during the Troubles was to censor people like Martin McGuinness, in an attempt to deny "the oxygen of publicity" - and leading to the laughable "words spoken by actors" interviews

For example, the Scottish Socialists in the current Scottish parliament, who've basically spent the past 5 years in-fighting.

I thought they'd spent the past five years having swingers parties? Hey, that'd have my vote

[Stuart M]

I dunno - look at Le Pen, the guy came second in the last French election...

Le Pen is actually a useful example. The French electorate, once their runoff system left them with a centre-right/extreme right choice, went for the centrist candidate. Ok Chirac wasn't the ideal choice for most left-leaning French voters, but he was infinitely preferable to the opponent. It must be said though, Le Pen benefitted somewhat from the French Presidental Election System.

Compare that to the situation faced by US voters, naturally polarised by first past the post. They've managed twice now to end up with a bunch of fairly extreme right-wingers in the White House.

[David Bailey]

At the moment, we have:

• Labour: 9.52%
• Conservative: 28.57%
• Lib Dem: 4.76%
• Nationalist (SNP / PLaid Cymru / etc.): 9.52%
• Green: 0%
• Other: 19.05%
• Dunno yet: 14.29%
• No-one, it's a waste of time: 14.29%

Based on this carefully-selected predictor, and spreading the unknowns evenly out, that gives us the following seating arrangement in the next election:

• Labour: 57
• Conservative: 428
• Lib Dem: 5
• SNP: 59
• Plaid Cymru: 36
• Other: 61

God, the Forum's composed of a bunch of Tories