to resent being told that we, the public, voted for this hung parliament?

[clam]

No we didn't. We voted for the party we wanted, mainly. Is the fact that there was no outright winner our fault?
And what were we supposed to have done instead?

"it hadn't been mentioned much prior to the run up to the election"

That's because everyone was asking about the economy, immigration etc. Once again, electoral reform was in the Labour manifesto. That is and has always been the platform for which you are voting. The whole purpose of the manifesto is that it is the document of what any government would enact, otherwise the parties wouldn't bother with them. Once again, it is not the party's fault if people do not read the manifesto. Each manifesto was available online and in public libraries. And, once again, with 51% of the public voting for parties that explicitly promised electoral reform in their manifestoes, the majority of the public did vote for electoral reform.

However, it is accepted that any form of electoral reform would go to a referendum, so the public will get a chance to vote on it explicitly, though doubtless some will then claim they didn't realise a referendum on electoral reform might actually lead to electoral reform and it wasn't obvious to them that was on the plate.

Salbysea, I'm glad to see that someone has thought about it and not just in terms of 'will it get my party in'.

I'm no expert in this (and there seem to be different kinds of PR anyway) but surely coalitions of many smaller parties can be formed with the FPTP system? I suppose in theory if the main parties had got even less seats we could get a government formed by an alliance of BNP, Monster Raving Loony Party, Greens, UKIP, etc.

(would we notice the difference I ask myself )

I'm assuming you have a particular party in mind Rollmops. Because surely people did vote for the party they thought would do the best for the country. They just didn't all agree on which party that might be. Perhaps because of their scarce grey matter. Bless them

well that's because the way I see onagar what's the point in "my" party getting in if they change their stance of the issues that made me vote for them to get on the winning team

its very hard to predict who will get into bed with who and "your" party will not necessarily cosy up with the party that you think is closest to them.

I think you have to vote a lot more tactically under PR, rather than looking at the partys and saying "yes those policies match my morals/needs best" or "yes that MP has a similar vision for the area to me"

its just MESSY!
(I have voted in a PR system BTW)

OP- YANBU. I think it's priceless to watch them falling over themselves trying to find someone to blame. It's keeping them out of mischief at least, all this having to actively do consensual politics.

Oh, and the people who think that the Lib Dems are holding the country to ransom? Eh? How do you work that out? Give it some actual thought instead of just spouting the rubbish spewed by the conservatives and labour.

The two main parties who incidentally would have the most to lose from electoral reform. Lib Dem is most likely to be most people's second choice, ergo most likely to push one of them off top slot. Of course the Cons and Lab are keen not to have reforms. But if we run a system where only the two main parties ever have a chance of getting in, them what kind of democracy is that? It would be suspect in the business world, so why should it be acceptable in a far more serious situation?

Actually on the subject of general elections I think we should ideally treat them as though they were local elections and vote for the candidate who we think will best represent us regardless of their party. That way, the party that could gather the best number of good, selfless people actively seeking to represent their constituents and their views would get overall control. And hopefully that would mean a government that looks after our interests rather than their own.

Yes Madonna, you got that right. Bless them indeed....

"...That way, the party that could gather the best number of good, selfless people actively seeking to represent their constituents and their views would get overall control. And hopefully that would mean a government that looks after our interests rather than their own. ..."

T'is so sweet I want to cry....

hung parliament seems such a good term - they all seem to be hanging on by their fingertips to possibly being in power . . . .

One last thing- I have been voting for 20 years and have never ended up with a government I've voted for. At every general election on average around 60% of us will be disappointed if that is the expected outcome. People can't seriously think that they should vote for the party most likely to get in? In which case we all go along to the voting in hope. And I refer you to my previous thoughts on how to choose someone- that's the real local power. We're kidding ourselves if we think that our vote "buys" us a stake in central government, as has been amply proved by the expenses scandal and other scandals recently.

I think we keep forgetting that politics in it's raw farm is a power game where the electorate is viewed as necessary evil by the Ones Who Serve The Country...

[Have seen politics from very close and personal angle and sadly convinced that even the best of the lot, regardless how idealistic they were when they started, end up playing The Game for very selfish reasons. To put it mildly]

Were you born a condescending twat Rollmops, or is this something you've worked hard on?

As long as I don't have your 'graces', dear Zapp, I continue to be mightily delighted with myself...
Carry on.

"vote for the candidate who we think will best represent us regardless of their party"

However much we hope they will represent us, with the whip system in place, it's pretty easy to see that many MPs vote in line with their party "say so" and heaven help them if they don't.

Yes, there have been some outspoken "rebels" who vote with their conscience but they are massively outnumbered and rarely swing votes very far...