Originally Posted by Martin2005

Reading posts like this serves to remind me of just what a thankless and impossible task governing must be

Originally Posted by hutton_d

And just as you post this here comes a wondeful example of what needs reforming! MPs' expenses: Shahid Malik admits charging taxpayer for two houses - Telegraph

This is just after Flash welcomes him back into the fold after passing the Commons 'are you an honest MP' test with flying colours but refusing to publish the report .... even with personal details blacked out. As I've said the whole lot want putting before the electorate BEFORE any *reforming* that the current snouts in the trough want to do.

But what is really wrong is the fact that they do not listen to the electorate. From Mandelson takes a swipe at 'bunker Britain' for rising anti-EU vote | Mail Online

"... Lord Mandelson will today attack the 'rising mood of national insularity' that led 60 per cent of voters to back anti-EU parties in last week's European elections ... In a speech in Berlin, Lord Mandelson will insist the answer to the economic crisis is closer ties with the EU ..."

I mean, WTF??? The majority of people want to cut ties with the EU as a political entity and the politicians (and I include all the main parties in this - actually after the elctions UKIP are the exception ...) want even closer ones. This is what needs reforming. The rest of it, expenses, number of MPs, voting system, are all minor details. If the politicians don't listen to what the electorate want then whole thing is pointless.

Dave

Originally Posted by Leslie

If it is like that Martin, why are the lists of people wanting to become MP's so large?

Les

Originally Posted by Martin2005

It's about being more representative, here's what I mean

At the 2005 general election

Share of Vote
Labour 37%
Con 33%
LD 22%

Seats
Labour 356
Con 209
LD 53

Share of seats
Labour 55%
Con 32%
LD 8%

Under a PR system the fair share would be more like
Labour 241 seats
Con 215 seats
LD 143 seats


So a PR system is inherently 'fairer' that the FPTP we currently have

Originally Posted by Martin2005

Do MPs govern?

Originally Posted by SunnySideUp

I doubt he would have been sacked at all.

The Company was doing fantastic until outside events deflected its business .... you keep the MD - especially, as it now appears, the measures taken by that MD are showing fruit!

Originally Posted by Leslie

When our parliamentary system was set up, the whole idea was that the country was split into areas as it is now. each area voted for a representative to sit in the House on their behalf. Each area could decide which person was best for them and also doubtless his party affiliation was also of importance. This system has worked perfectly well for all those years of our democracy and I don't see why it needs to be changed now. I believe it all to be yet another red herring that Flash has resurrected in order to make us us all think what a star he really is since he has very little else to try to grasp our attention with. In just about every respect he is a monumental "fail" as they say and so for that matter is the rest of his party!

Les

Originally Posted by Leslie

I suggest you ask any MP that question Martin! They do consider themselves to be very important people, or hadn't you noticed?

Les