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Original poster

No PR or the BNP will get seats

44 replies

Cammelia · 11/05/2010 17:36

!!

OP posts:
Chil1234 · 11/05/2010 19:49

The BNP is just one fringe 'nationalist' party that might just get enough support to squeak a few MPs under PR. It's not unrealistic to assume that a mainstream religious group would take the opportunity to gather political support under a party banner if they thought there was a chance of representation. A fundamentalist Christian, Jewish or Islamic party fed up with a secular society, for example, has a sizeable potential electorate.

FrakkedUpTheElection · 11/05/2010 19:40

Hence my qualified of 'if duplicated'

I suspect it would be NE greater London lumped together (I haven't checked the proposed map for this) but surrounding constituencies

Daggenham : 11.2% (3rd)
E Ham : No candidate
W Ham : No candidate (but the National Front polled 2.3%)
Ilford South : No candidate
Barking : 14.6% (3rd)
Leyton & Wanstead : 1.4% (6th)
Ilford North : 3.3% (4th)
Romford : 5.2% (4th)
Hornchurch & Upminster : 6.4% (4th)

And a fair few of those the BNP had never stood before.

TheHeathenOfSuburbia · 11/05/2010 19:30

But in a bigger constituency, the BNP wouldn't have got 10% of the vote, probably?
What's next door to Barking? (Don't say UKIP! )

FrakkedUpTheElection · 11/05/2010 19:25

BNP are more of a danger if we get STV. The result in Barking, if duplicated across a super-constituency, could see a BNP seat.

But even with that I would still prefer to see STV.

TheHeathenOfSuburbia · 11/05/2010 19:20

True, frakkedup, realised that after I read my post .

I kinda meant, no need to panic about PR, we are only likely to be offered AV, maybe STV if Clegg really kicks Cameron arse.

BariatricObama · 11/05/2010 19:15

its democracy innit. i think its worth the risk, to give a voice to everyone

FrakkedUpTheElection · 11/05/2010 19:14

AV isn't PR - it's still majoritation.

AV+ is slightly more PR...

TheHeathenOfSuburbia · 11/05/2010 19:03

If we're looking at AV-style PR, then you still need to get 50% of the votes in a constituency (after the re-jigging with second/third preferences) to win a seat. Think the BNP will ever do that?

FrakkedUpTheElection · 11/05/2010 19:01

There are ways to deal with this:

A % bar

A change to the Oath so they won't take it and therefore can't take up their seats (like Sinn Fein won't sit)

Accepting that we're a democracy and they're currently a legitimate political party

scoutliam · 11/05/2010 18:47

If they don't get their say the danger is that the country becomes complacent about the danger they are.

Let the fact that they may get a seat be the incentive to continue to campaign and argue against them and continue their demise.

Stretch · 11/05/2010 18:20

It's ok saying that they deserve their say etc...if you are not targeted by them.

Say you have a predominantly asian area and your MP was a BNP member, how on earth would you feel??

Also, when does it not be ok for them to have power, when they get 5 seats? 50 seats? 326 seats?

That aside, they are notably lazy and rarely turn up for their council duties, so hopefully not an issue.

McDreamy · 11/05/2010 18:06

I like the sound of the 5% thing too or else parliament would be very "bitty" - can't think of a better word

minipie · 11/05/2010 18:05

Agree with McDreamy. If enough people vote for a party they should get representation in Parliament - that's democracy.

Much as I cannot stand the BNP, I must acknowledge that there are eejits out there who support them. And perhaps their views should be aired in Parliament - if only so they can be stomped on (verbally of course).

gerontius · 11/05/2010 18:02

But in a democracy, you can't decide which parties are legitimate or not. The most important thing is for the system to be fair.

Stretch · 11/05/2010 18:00

Do work??? You know what I mean

Stretch · 11/05/2010 17:59

Yes, and in a democracy if enough people voted, the Nazi party would get in, and well they would deserve it....

But yes, the 5% thing would probably do work.

McDreamy · 11/05/2010 17:52

We live in a democracy - if enough people vote for them they will get seats and so they should. Please don't read that as support for them. I do not support them or anything they stand for but if enough people vote.........

StewieGriffinsMom · 11/05/2010 17:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Aussieng · 11/05/2010 17:39

Not necessarily. Many PR systems have a de minimis eg 5% of the national vote before seats are allocated.