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Posted by: vidcapper 15th November 2017, 07:47 AM

What would you like to see?

There are two that immediately spring to mind,

1. The voting system should be changed to a proportional one, preferably STV. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_transferable_vote

This has been discussed here before, of course, but my second proposed change, rarely if ever...

2. Abolition of Party Whips. http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/whips/

I see them as an affront to democracy, sometimes bullying MP's into voting for measures they and/or the constituents consider wrong.

Posted by: Suedehead2 15th November 2017, 11:43 AM

The Whips' role is, in part tied in with the electoral system. Governments operate on the basis that all their votes were votes for their whole manifesto. This, of course, is nonsense. Nobody, not even the people who write them, agrees with every dot and comma of a single party's manifesto.

Under STV, MPs would have more legitimacy in saying that constituents were voting for individuals, not just a party. Of course, it wouldn't be entirely true, but a candidate who made it clear that they disagreed with certain elements of party policy could claim their victory to be an endorsement of that view.

The Whips still have a legitimate role to play. Part of their job is to gauge the mood among MPs. That includes warning the PM that they may be heading for defeat in a particular vote. They also act as "talent spotters" for the party leader and advise on suitable candidates for promotion. The Chief Whip might even say to the PM "The ideal candidate for that Cabinet vacancy is me"!

I agree that the better-known part of a Whip's job is somewhat undemocratic. There is nothing particularly wrong in having people whose job is to persuade potential rebels to toe the party line, but the methods used by the Whips are excessive and would be considered bullying in any other workplace.

Posted by: Popchartfreak 15th November 2017, 02:39 PM

Yes, but so many MP's have been suspected to find whips quite appealing so perhaps a name change would do the trick. I suggest "Outlook diary reminders" as a suitable job title.

Posted by: Suedehead2 15th November 2017, 02:44 PM

Another good move would be to redesign the Commons chamber. The current layout simply reinforces the adversarial nature of politics. Most legislative chambers ar deigned in a horseshoe shape; the Commons should do the same.

Posted by: Popchartfreak 15th November 2017, 02:49 PM

Sounds very sensible. It would also force Dennis Skinner to find another seat to sit on, getting up early every morning to put his towel on it must be quite wearying for him - it certainly seems to have addled his rational abilities of late!