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MNHQ

Yes, No, Meh? Alternative Vote Webchat with John Prescott and Katie Ghose, TODAY at 11am

195 replies

KatieMumsnet · 26/04/2011 15:01

Yes, No, Meh? If you haven't already, the time to make your mind up on AV is getting closer, so we've invited John Prescott from the No camp and Katie Ghose from the Yes campaign to answer your questions about the referendum. Join us for a webchat at 11am, tomorrow, Wed 27 April.

Katie Ghose is an experienced campaigner and barrister and chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society. As chair of the Yes to AV campaign, Katie has said 'the alternative vote is a small change that will make a big difference - making MPs work harder to get and stay elected, and giving you more of a say'.

John Prescott was deputy prime minister from 1997 - 2007, is now a life peer and is campaigning against AV, urging people to say No to 'hung parliaments, coalitions, broken promises and a weakening of democracy'.

Whatever your take on AV, hope you can join us to debate the pros and cons.

OP posts:
cruelladepoppins · 26/04/2011 21:12

In my experience coalition governments (and minority governments) have worked quite well in the Scottish Parliament. They have tended to deliver reasonable policies that got fair support from the people, and not done anything too drastic that people didn't want.

Every Government has to strike a balance between representation and leadership.

As far as I can make out, Westminster elections are now the only elections in Scotland in which we have first-past-the-post.

I support proportional representation in principle, but am not keen on having umpteen different voting systems and I have no particular torch to carry for AV.

The main advantage of FPTP to my mind is really its simplicity - I think we do need to have a voting system that everyone understands, and having all these different systems (to my mind) makes that less likely.

Katie, is there any research about the use of different voting systems within the one country, and whether voters struggle if they have different systems to contend with? I know we had trouble here last time with using 2 different systems on the same polling day in 2007, for councils and for the Scottish Parliament, but even when elections are not on the same day, do people struggle?

Trinaluce · 26/04/2011 21:17

Well, if it IS actually either of you, which I doubt...

Marmite, yes or no?

MNHQ
GeraldineMumsnet · 26/04/2011 22:04

UPDATE!! The timing of this webchat has changed, now starting at 11am and going on till noon.

longfingernails · 26/04/2011 22:06

A leaked memo from the Electoral Reform Society says the following, quite clearly, and without equivocation:

It is possible that ERSL will profit as a result of a YES vote (increased business opportunities)

Why is the YES campaign lying about this devastating memo?

Why are they continuing to insist that the ERS is not thinking about profiting from the referendum, when the leaked memo from the gutsy whistleblower is so clear?

I am not too anti-AV - I could be persuaded to vote for a variant where all second-preferences are taken into account, rather than just those of the BNP, Loony, etc - but the gutter tactics of Lib Dems (especially Cable and Huhne) make it unthinkable. Not a surprise really - Lib Dems are well-known for being the dirtiest campaigners, and the primary proponents of smear tactics.

yousankmybattleship · 26/04/2011 22:37

Can't we have Kate Middleton's take on it?

Or Elvis?

cakeretention · 26/04/2011 22:42

me: I don't care about AV. Why should I vote "yes"

canvasser: Because it will be fairer. Smaller parties will get a look in.

me: What, like the BNP and UKIP?

canvasser: No, only smaller parties that lots of people vote for

me: So "larger" smaller parties then? Confused

moonstorm · 27/04/2011 00:00

Changing the time of the chat??? We don't have an edit function... [chmm] [csmile]

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 27/04/2011 08:31

I'm not sure why the yes campaign insist AV will make MPs work harder? Is this on the presumption that those with smaller majorities work harder? because in reality, that's a nonsense.

LadyBlaBlah · 27/04/2011 08:54

AV or FPTP ? It's like choosing between a beige polyester cardigan or a beige polyester sweater. Hardly a choice worth making.

JohnPrescott · 27/04/2011 09:00

test

katieghose · 27/04/2011 09:05

test

ohmeohmy · 27/04/2011 09:25

Why is AV better than the status quo?

Librashavinganotherbiscuit · 27/04/2011 09:33

Unfortunately changing the voting system will not change the quality of the people who want to be voted for.....

Katn · 27/04/2011 09:35

John, what do you think of the news that there may be legal action over the falsehoods contained within the No to AV campaign as suggested by Chris Huhne? He seems to make a good point, especially if you've seen the breakdown of the No to AV booklet in this graphic
imgur.com/a/hgmbQ

mumutd · 27/04/2011 10:06

I don't like the idea that somebody can win based on being someone's 4th choice of candidate, that doesn't sit right with me.

Isn't this referendum just a Lib Dem pacifier? Purely done so that the Conservatives could get the Lib Dems on board and get into government. It doesn't actually give us a credible option to first past the post.

HRHUrsulaBuffay · 27/04/2011 10:08

also that orange colour is putrid.

HarrietJones · 27/04/2011 10:08

Nick Clegg says yes- I think do the opposite

David Cameron says no- I think do the opposite

ArgghhhConfused

mumutd · 27/04/2011 10:15

I never did like playground sniggerers Wink

purits · 27/04/2011 10:40

Katie has said 'the alternative vote is a small change that will make a big difference - making MPs work harder to get and stay elected, and giving you more of a say'.

purits has said (on another thread) "It is strange that all this talk is about what the electors will do. Do you really think that the politicians will meekly sit there and accept it. No, they will be plotting behind the scenes. We will get even fewer 'conviction' politicians and more 'do whatever it takes to get elected' politicians. Less passion and more grey suits. They will wind up trying to be all things to all people.
We need to think more about unintended consequences."

Can I have your reaction to that please?

DuelingFanjo · 27/04/2011 10:43

Grin at HarrietJones

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 27/04/2011 11:01

Ok so John and Katie are all set and ready to go, so we're under starters orders and we'll be off in just a minute.

katieghose · 27/04/2011 11:01

Hi, I'm Katie from Yes to Fairer Votes, it's great to be here to chat about the referendum, only a week to go tomorrow!

JohnPrescott · 27/04/2011 11:01

Hi everyone. Thanks for the chance to take part in this discussion.

katieghose · 27/04/2011 11:02

@Missingfriendsandsad

John, You said many times that AV wil result in more coalitions, but there is no evidence at all that this is the case. Why are your jeaopardising your political integrity by leading with your chin with false statements that areee easy to knock down. Are you secretly a Yes campaign stooge?

You are right. It is wrong to say AV will somehow lead to permanent coalitions. Its just another of the myths and scaremongering we have had.

What it means is that MPs will need to have a support of the majority of their voters which is not the case now.

DuelingFanjo · 27/04/2011 11:02

:)