It is time that the UK looks at having proper electoral reform
We are entering, hopefully, the final stage of our EU membership and we need to be reminded of the state of British democracy and the current lack of it in our politicians, peers, the elite who run us, the BBC, CBI and national press who, in February described Ukip thus: “Ukip – derided as irrelevant, mired in internal fighting, facing financial melt-down, it appears to have committed political suicide!”
Many would agree with that synopsis. But I believe it was a short-sighted view that proves that our political system is flawed, that many believe that a first-past-the-post system is a disgrace in any democracy and that our electoral system is specifically designed to support the status quo and keep new parties out!
I was amazed to discover there are 492 political parties registered in the UK – are we to believe not one could be more politically competent than the Lib Dems or Green party?
I remind you of the 2015 election results, the Tories won, their 11.3 million votes earned them 329 seats in Parliament – Ukip’s 3.9 million votes earned them one seat! Scotland has 4.2 million voters – they are represented by 59 MPs!
It was clear from day one the establishment, the Government, the BBC, and the national press were anti-Ukip and anti-Nigel Farage. From David Cameron’s mass insult to 3.9 million Ukip voters, describing them as “fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists” Nigel Farage was hounded and harassed at every turn, verbally attacked on TV and radio while the press resorted to character assassination. It worked, he went and a string of dodgy social climbers moved in – this is where the editor saw ‘political suicide’.
There is no electoral reform on the cards – it is time that there was!
Bob Wydell, Oswestry
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