Lib Dem leader says people lending their votes to rival parties could shut the door on Conservatives at Westminster for years to come

  • snacks@feddit.uk
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    1 year ago

    Labour will not explicitly support tactical voting as its against many party rules. You have to change the rules first before they will allow such a move, its purely wishful thinking that someone can wave a magic wand.

    the challenge PR has to overcome isnt Keir Starmer, its a fundamental change where electoral calculations are long established. I support PR but I totally understand why Labour wont go for it this cycle.

    • SubArcticTundra@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      Do you think they’d be more likely to pass it a few elections down the line once they see growing support for the Tories again?

      • Syldon@feddit.uk
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        1 year ago

        Blair/Labour promised this then lost the election. We have had Tories ever since. This is not a good one to procrastinate on.

      • ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝@feddit.uk
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        1 year ago

        I think that could definitely be an option - they’ll likely have a large majority this time round and do no incentive to change the system but, as the margin erodes over the years and they have to compromise more with other parties, this will likely be on the table.

        Another factor is Scotland. It will eventually go and that would likely mean Labour would only ever win with a massive turnout in their favour. I also think there were concerns about boundary changed helping the Tories. That would mean the only way to keep the Tories out would be PR and Labour, less likely to benefit from FPTP, could decide it’s a better option for them.

        • mackwinston@feddit.uk
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          1 year ago

          I’m not so sure about Scotland. There have only been three elections since 1945 where Scotland was the deciding factor in the result, and one of those delivered the Conservative/LD coalition.

      • snacks@feddit.uk
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        1 year ago

        maybe, but as long as theres zero other more important things voter wise its just too easy to ignore. We had a vote on it ten years ago, the entire subject was ridiculed but it came as part of the deal for the Cameron coalition government at the price of Lib Dem principles in other areas. Youve got so many issues, youd need the Conservative Party to support it for a bill to pass. In my wildest dreams the Conservative Party will dissolve into nothing by next year, replaced by a larger party like the SNP or Lib Dems as Opposition. Then we might get consensus on PR