Tell me which General Election had any realistic prospect of any party winning other than the main two? There might be more *options* but that doesn't equate to more *choice* if the other options have no prospect of winning. The last time a party other than Labour or Conservative had any chance of winning was in 1918 when the liberal party was at the end of its decline and replacement by the Labour Party which had only started 18 years previously. 1918 also coincided with the vote being extended to all men over 21 and most women over 30.Tell me which General Election only had a choice of two parties?
Since you ask, 1931,1935, 1955 (if we are rounding), 2010 (coalition). Generally the winner has over 40% of the votes. 50% isn't really relevant as you have to take into account parties in NI and the SNP.Tell me which General Elections did the winner have more than 50% of the votes cast?
This is a nostalgic thread.
Tell me which General Election had any realistic prospect of any party winning other than the main two? There might be more *options* but that doesn't equate to more *choice* if the other options have no prospect of winning. The last time a party other than Labour or Conservative had any chance of winning was in 1918 when the liberal party was at the end of its decline and replacement by the Labour Party which had only started 18 years previously. 1918 also coincided with the vote being extended to all men over 21 and most women over 30.
Since you ask, 1931,1935, 1955 (if we are rounding), 2010 (coalition). Generally the winner has over 40% of the votes. 50% isn't really relevant as you have to take into account parties in NI and the SNP.
Depends what you mean by "win". In many respects a General Election is to elect a representative for your constituency to represent the constituency in the Commons. In my consituency the elected candidate came from neither of the two main parties so our elected representative (the "winner") was a Green Party candidate.Tell me which General Election had any realistic prospect of any party winning other than the main two?
Yes. The way it works is like this.
You ask the population what they want. They vote for a Conservative Government.
5 years later you ask again. They want a Conservative Government.
5 years later you ask again. They want a Conservative Government.
5 years later you ask again. They want a Conservative Government.
5 years later you ask again. They want a Labour Government.
5 years later you ask again. They want a Labour Government.
5 years later you ask again. They want a Labour Government.
5 years later you ask again. They want a Conservative Government.
5 years later you ask again. They want a Labour Government.
However...
If you ask them what they want as regards Europe in 1975 you absolutely should never ask the people again.
Asking them again 40 years later is a terrible thing. But we did it anyway. In spite of the verdict being void due to breaches of electoral law and only being advisory, not binding and not being a significant majority decision, the Govt acted on it anyway.
But of course asking the people again, another 10 years later given the very adverse effects on the UK is an abolute no no and anti-democratic
And how well do you think the views of you and your constituency are represented in Parliament? Is it by any chance "not at all"?Depends what you mean by "win". In many respects a General Election is to elect a representative for your constituency to represent the constituency in the Commons. In my consituency the elected candidate came from neither of the two main parties so our elected representative (the "winner") was a Green Party candidate.
And how well do you think the views of you and your constituency are represented in Parliament? Is it by any chance "not at all"?
With PR there would be 71 greens, not 4. 228 Labour MPs and 73 libdem. Yes, there would be 100 reform MPs (well for about a month until all the arrests have been carried out and the by elections happen) and 139 tory mps.
That would mean that to form a government either Labour or Conservative would have to form a coalition. Labour's policies would be heavily influenced by the Greens and Lib Dems.
As it is, Labour can do what it wants and no-one else gets a say. The Greens and Lib Dems remain marginalised parties with little prospect of power.
By "win" I mean take power. Everything else is just shouting from the sidelines.
I'm struggling to see what Brian can discover from starting this thread that he didn't already know after nine years, several hundred pages and many thousands of posts on the BR Brexit thread?