tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10968338.post6835095208246421169..comments2023-08-11T09:56:34.039+01:00Comments on timrollpickering: Primaries to stay in the UK?Tim Roll-Pickeringhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12589024696145675963noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10968338.post-21825810713638200612009-08-08T19:02:53.478+01:002009-08-08T19:02:53.478+01:00The problem with Primaries is that it can only eve...The problem with Primaries is that it can only ever essentially be a two party solution. The Liberal Democrats would have real difficulties in fielding enough candidates to ensure a multiple to choose from in each constituency, and smaller parties would find it absolutely impossible. In other words, primaries would lead to a more entrenched division between the big two and everyone else in our electoral system. It strikes me as clumsy, as well as expensive.<br /><br />On a mass scale, it would be very expensive, not only for the parties (or the government, were funding provided) but also for the candidates. In order to ensure equity, incredibly tough spending caps would have to be introduced on primary campaigns.<br /><br />It would also increase the amount of time needed for campaigning in the buildup to each election, a needless headache for many sitting MPs and a drain on potential candidates coming from disadvantaged circumstances.<br /><br />Longer campaigns could also ensure a bigger role for influential interests within the campaign process.<br /><br />Combined, this could narrow the social inclusion among candidates in elections, which happens enough already. It could further cement the two-party duopoly, whilst resulting in parties so broadchurch, and candidates so consensus-based, as to create the ironic effect of lowering choice despite increasing participation.<br /><br />I'm unsure about electoral reform in general, but given no choice I'd far rather an improved voting system than trying to mandate primaries, which is clumsy and fraught with problems.<br /><br />DaveDavidhttp://dingdongalistic.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10968338.post-33550025980978140522009-08-04T23:02:49.927+01:002009-08-04T23:02:49.927+01:00What if all the the candidates offered to the shor...What if all the the candidates offered to the shortlist were essentially of the same professional politician caste the public have become so exasperated with - wouldn't this just give the illusion of choice to the voter, with the downside that when nothing changes the voter will feel conned and be even angrier than they are now?<br /><br />I do hope this is the start of a new era of participation in the political process, and for the time being I shall try and let my optimism stunt my cynicism - but it has to be acknowledged that it also offers the political class (and their agendas) the opportunity to entrench themselves still further, whilst simultaneously convincing the voter that it was really them that voted for such a settlement.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18022198435721656172noreply@blogger.com