Political Question

[andrewducker]

At the moment the House of Lords are debating the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill.

I've heard numerous claims that this bill is incredibly unfair, and blatant gerrymandering by the Conservative Party.

Looking at the details, I'm feeling baffled. I can see a claim that the exemption for the three Scottish constituencies (Two Liberal Democrat, on Scottish National Party) are biased in their favour. But I can't see how a system whereby people are grouped together in what's going to be a massively arbitrary manner (each area must be within 5% of the national average, and are set up by independent bodies - the Boundary Commissions).

I don't really have a stake in this one - I'd just like someone to explain how this system would give an advantage to any one party. I can see that it could _remove_ advantage from a party if the old system with much less equal constituency sizes gave that party an advantage, but I'm totally failing to see how it's anything like gerrymandering.

Am I missing something obvious?

Comments

[andrewhickey.livejournal.com]

Well, the simple answer is that we've only got a choice between two systems in the referendum anyway. I (and the Lib Dems) may prefer STV, Andrew (and the Greens) may prefer AMS, Roz (and Labour reformists) may prefer AV+, but we've all got to choose between just AV and FPTP. And AV itself is a very, very simple system - see my explanation at http://andrewhickey.info/2010/08/22/the-alternative-vote-system

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Right, so it's not the best system, but it's the best we're ever likely to get?

[andrewhickey.livejournal.com]

The best we can get through a parliament elected by FPTP, at least. I have hopes that within fifteen years we'll have a better system, but even if not we'll be better off with AV.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

And I suppose it would have to go some to be any worse than the stupid system we have now.

[andrewducker]

Well, not ever. But the best we're being offered this time around.