May 7 was the most disproportionate election in British history,

[al**bear]

New analysis by the Electoral Reform Society (ERS)

Ukip could have won as many as 80 seats in the general election under a different voting system, according to a new report.

A more proportional method of allocating seats would have dramatically increased the size of Nigel Farage's party in the House of Commons, while the Greens could have ended up with 20 MPs.

Ukip and the Greens received five million votes on May 7, but ended up with just one MP each.

New analysis by the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) suggests that an alternative system of voting would have led to both parties picking up many more seats, while the Conservatives would have seen their tally of MPs fall by almost 100.

"May 7 was the most disproportionate election in British history," said Katie Ghose, chief executive of the ERS.

"It's about time we had a fairer system for electing our MPs.

[jd.linklater]

---

@cee-dee wrote:

I'm not trying to win an argument. It's not "winning", it's stating a fact (or three).

As for diparaging, none of my comments were about any poster on here. They were statements of facts about those (amongst the wider population) who want to change the rules to suit themselves because the majority do not share their line of thinking and on that score, they were a bunch of losers.

Farage was a loser, he was not elected.

Coming third is also coming in a loser.

---

I am one of the wider population you refer to who want to change the rules so in a broad sense your remarks are aimed at me. This is not a personal crusade on my part because I'm a bad loser as you implied. I am speaking on behalf of all the other voters like myself who are of the opinion that the two main parties no longer have anything of substance to offer us. It is time for a change and the only way to bring that about is to instigate a change in the way our Members of Parliament are elected.

I'm also of the opinion that membership of the EU in its present form is not in Britain's best interests and apparently 4 million other people think likewise. We had excellent trade links with Europe and the wider world long before the EU came into existence, our trade links with Europe go back to the 13th century and beyond. The difference then was that we were trading as an independent nation which we can be again. It's time to put Britain's interests first.

[upthecreekyetagain]

---

@jd.linklater wrote:

---

@cee-dee wrote:

I'm not trying to win an argument. It's not "winning", it's stating a fact (or three).

As for diparaging, none of my comments were about any poster on here. They were statements of facts about those (amongst the wider population) who want to change the rules to suit themselves because the majority do not share their line of thinking and on that score, they were a bunch of losers.

Farage was a loser, he was not elected.

Coming third is also coming in a loser.

---

I am one of the wider population you refer to who want to change the rules so in a broad sense your remarks are aimed at me. This is not a personal crusade on my part because I'm a bad loser as you implied. I am speaking on behalf of all the other voters like myself who are of the opinion that the two main parties no longer have anything of substance to offer us. It is time for a change and the only way to bring that about is to instigate a change in the way our Members of Parliament are elected.

I'm also of the opinion that membership of the EU in its present form is not in Britain's best interests and apparently 4 million other people think likewise. We had excellent trade links with Europe and the wider world long before the EU came into existence, our trade links with Europe go back to the 13th century and beyond. The difference then was that we were trading as an independent nation which we can be again. It's time to put Britain's interests first.

---

By that logic 26 million don't agree with you!

[fallen-archie]

If this discussion were about logic there would not be the emphasis on the word loser that some apply. Instead we would be asking ourselves how we can learn from the current political process and find ways of providing a voice for everyone just once every five years.

The mere fact that 4m people cast their votes and will have their concerns completely ignored is a bad show indeed. But more than that it discriminates in a way that is unacceptable in every other aspect of modern society. As a Union we are becoming fractured and in part that reflects a real frustration for those who see their views concerns and desires being ignored. It has a dark side in Scotand where a group of feral Alcoholic thugs have wrestled power away from its own population and produced a one party state and in the process they are banning all opposition. Ignoring people always ends in disaster, so do you want Revolution or Evolution?

[cee-dee]

I think the nail in there is the word "fractured" because that's exactly where "giving a voice" to extreme views leads. Outside Parliament, they've had a voice and only a minority support them.

If, as the fracturists want, the electoral system was changed so that the losers gained seats they'd not won, it would lead to constant disagreement, things would get "watered down" to appease those losers OR nothing would get done at all.

The best way out for the extemists of the left and right would be to work with the centre parties and effect change from within.

[fallen-archie]

Which is exactly what the Liberal Democrats sought to do and they got routed for it. The establishment always claim that the system must remain because it gives stable government, the reality is that it preserves the status quo and creates a society in which the majority are, to use your term, Losers. As for fractures, both main parties have their fair share too as John Major found out to his cost.

We have a golden opportunity to reinvent our democracy, those who only look back will never progress. Let us have two chambers of fairly elected representitives and clear away the old guard which has brought the political system into disrepute and ripped off those it was meant to support.

[Anonymous]

This reply is general and to no one specific. Just a rant.

In the meantime THIS loser  will continue to pay her bedroom tax (heaven forbid that losers might feel they need an extra study room as big as a cupboard, how silly can they be) and have her adult children live with her for the rest of her life, while her children will be picking up litter for 30 hours a week to earn their benefits of £50 a week, unless of course they can find work at a charity shop to gain valuable work experience and learn how to get up in the morning.

They will have to go on useless government scheme courses which are the biggest waste of time ever and only fill the accounts of those who got the contracts to execute this nonsense. In the meantime they will have to apply at least 20 jobs per week (if they can find them) that give them nil hour contracts and no chance of building up a future what so ever.

To get all these people on benefits to pic up the litter will be a costly affair by the way. They will have to employ teams of people to organise this all over the country and supervise all these scroungers. At least it will create work for some. There could be a job there for my hubby as a health and safety officer though if they think he's not too old. It would be nice to be back at  £40.000 a year again.

So a nice idea, but except for cheap labour to keep our country tidy and clean (I doubt a reduction in council tax for that) I don't think it's workable (I'm pretty sure they know that too, but it's nice to keep people on their toes and keep the winners happy by showing what a strong leader you are) and as always it will only benefit the few...and not those "minorities" that were hoping that their vote would count for something.

But we're all in this together...I still struggle to find the together part,  but then again I'm not privately educated so what do I know.

Never mind. It's our own fault of course. We are lazy, unwilling, of low intelligence, like to eat **bleep**, drink and smoke, watch day time TV all day, so yes, who in the right mind would entertain our opinion, our vote. We're the losers. We were unable to stay unaffected by the recession, so tough. Who cares if you worked all your live, who cares if you paid your taxes for donkey years.

You are now part of the multi-million minority heap, so deal with it.

Rant over.

[cee-dee]

Let us for a moment depart in to conjecture and imagine the outcome of the losers (by that I don't mean people, I meant losing parties) somehow winning.

Looking back on their 5 year stint, it might go something like "The new government swept in to power in a blaze of glory with their charismatic leader triumphantly waving his magic wand in one hand and a glass in the other.

Sadly, the magic wand didn't work, all things remained the same at best and in some areas dissolved in to chaos at worst. The people rose up, demanding that expectations and promises be kept but the bombastic charisma had somehow faded and rational explanations (regarded as irrational excuses by those led astray) about why things could not be done to create the New Utopia wildly promoted only 5 years ago now fall on deaf ears as the widely predicted defeat in the election draws ever closer."

[joamur_gosof]

First well said harry ,second...utopia is not a  dream for the scheming power crazy money obssesed or a conspiricy theory that may upset the selfish towards others...its an idea that one day the world will be the one place everyone feels worth something as value is in your worth not in what others think your worth or material possesions.

The reason utopia is not here and now is because the human race is still an unlearnt uneducated grabbing selfish zelot  in the most part...rid that out of you all and utopia creates itself. It isn't a dream its a hope,so do not think that one person is going to deliver that to you,all people need to vote deviants out ,until that day occurs, the prison you spin on shall remain your home.

Now voting and seats and councils per community is a farce and anyone who thinks they live in a democracy not a dictatorship in this country sadly misunderstands democracy....capitalism is not part of a democracy ,capitalism is part of imperialism where the more you posses in wealth the more ''powerful'' you are seen to be and here is the worst part ,when the ''powerful'' expect to be treated with worth or else...its a dictatorship .full stop.

Voting counts for nothing except to make you all feel you are involved somehow in the ruling (you are not)

[fallen-archie]

Or the alternative view;

Dear Citizen 

Once more we will run the Country having gained enough support to do so thanks to the first past the post system and a constitutional map chosen by ourselves. This subject will be reviewed again prior to the next election to ensure that regardless of the popularity of other parties we will remain in power, this is Democracy as we know it.

We will continue to preside over our dynamic economy driven by growth, in population, growth in housing, growth in salaries for high achievers, whilst the minimum wage will be scrapped and replaced by zero hour contracts, this will cement the widening gap between blue and white collar workers. Food Banks will be encouraged and allowed to give away goods beyond the legal use by date. Flexible working will be encouraged for all, Sunday will continue to develop just as any other working day. Employers will also be able to dictate when staff take holiday's based upon when it is convenient for the business. The national retirement age shall rise to 80 by 2020 to reflect the ageing population we will also introduce a euhthenasia bill making it easier for retired people to end their lives.Both measures will enable us to further reduce the budget deficit and we predict the deficit to disappear completely once population numbers reach our target of 100 million. The Licence fee will be abolished and the BBC sold off. The NHS will remain our flagship programme we will expand the facilities available by buying in from the private sector, that way we can develop a viable private health infrastructure and enable underpaid consultants to supplement their salaries.

Foreign Policy will include confirmation of our support for Israel and its bid to keep a tight grip on the Media, politics Professional services and the worlds wealth. VAT will remain at 20% but be extended to items currently zero rated including food.

[cee-dee]

We live in a country with amazing freedom.

If you think there's a dictatorship here, take a trip out to one of those countries where real dictatorships exist and if you manage to escape from there and get back here, you might then realise what a free society we have here.

[joamur_gosof]

not 100% sure its an Israel thing as all countries have the same doctrines for the sheeple,but kudos for the rest as a blueprint on what not to do if you want utopian democracy 🙂

[joamur_gosof]

you think cd that because there are worse places this isnt a dictatorship ?  You go ahead and be free ,but do not pretend this is a free country with amazing freedoms for people...you can say 'compared to'  and thats all you have..real freedom cannot exist in this evoloution as I said,the people are far from educated to what the worlds people needs to be free..but not all so evoloution is occuring under our noses and therefore the day will come and utopia will follow...just dont pretend this is it because its better than somewhere else,which you are right in pointing out because it is.

[cee-dee]

Just where in the World is more free than here?

[joamur_gosof]

depends what you are calling free does it not

[upthecreekyetagain]

---

@cee-dee wrote:

Just where in the World is more free than here?

---

Iceland ???

[cee-dee]

If that's so, all the moaners from here should quickly make their way there?

If the ice and snow doesn't get you, the volcanoes might?

[joamur_gosof]

To clarify my post.....I think this country is amazing but not the direction its going,I think this countries people on the whole are amazing but not the direction they are being led,I believe this country can be the worlds leader in the utopia we discuss but not with the present leadership or mindset. I also beleive there is melovolence and greed entwined in the basic good and this has led to a dictatorship in every mannerism .

Free has many meanings to an animal who is caged or trapped by a means ,its captor is a dictator as it  forces the animal into a situation not of its own making ...many freedoms or even great freedoms are not dictated or given by others they just are.

Now school is a dictatorship..and education is a freedom,if you can tell the difference then you cannot say we are given freedoms

[joamur_gosof]

Norway 🙂

[joamur_gosof]

In reply to moaners should make there way there ..lol  nooooooooo  people who except dictatorships as freedom should move...and the farther the better and utopia will come even sooner

[fallen-archie]

I believe we have freedom in Britain to a point, It has great appeal and is a good place to live. There is nothing wrong with working to improve things further and to make sure the benefits gained are spread across the board. Very few Brits would complain about others coming to live here especially when so many Brits choose to reside overseas. What they do object to is having our population growing faster than our infrastructure, the continuing loss of green space as we struggle to house everyone.

That is but one complaint, there are quite a few others. They are all consequences of specific policies which a true democracy should be able to discuss. Our forefathers fought two wars to win our freedom and I am proud to be British but I retain a strong sense of fairness and am sick to death of a small number in our society being allowed to use and abuse the freedom that was so hard won. Be they the establishment, Politicians Thieves, fraudsters, Bankers etc.