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Original poster

AV or not ?

334 replies

theoldbrigade · 20/04/2011 19:00

Thoughts please.

OP posts:
stikmatix · 05/05/2011 20:59

Not giving away which way I voted, but all I can say is polling station was dead as a dodo when I went at midday. The ladies manning it looked bored. We don't have local elections here, and I think the referendum obviously didn't whip up a frenzy in our area...

Swedes2 · 05/05/2011 21:02

pointydog - I think you'll find the YES campaign were responsible for a grand proportion of the fiction re AV. YES fought a very poor campaign.
round up of the truth behind the claims

It was a poor campaign all round. Disgraceful in many ways for both camps.

Niecie · 05/05/2011 21:03

Round here it was busier at our polling station than it was last year for the general election! I was quite surprised, I must admit.

pointydog · 05/05/2011 21:07

I listened to a newsnight (or similar) TV debate and I watched the TV ad for Yes and No.

Based on the intelligent, official messages the Yes campaign lacked a little lustre but was clear and sensible. The No campaign was opinion with no evidence.

I just pay attention to the sensible debates, not the junk.

SoloIsApparentlyACougar · 05/05/2011 21:08

Pfft, I said I didn't know what I was talking about! Grin but I used my vote and that's more than many will.

theanimalswentintwobytwo · 05/05/2011 21:08

I wasn't 100% convinced either way so if i'm not convinced that i want AV then i had to vote No.

edam · 05/05/2011 21:08

dh can't be bothered to go and vote. Normally I'd be on his case, people died and all that, but he left for work at 7am and only got back at 8pm and has been busy with ds's bedtime routine ever since... not even eaten yet. (I reminded two people I bumped into today to vote, though.)

pointydog · 05/05/2011 21:12

I've just read through that channel 4 summary, swedes.

Of the four misleading Yes statements, only one was attributed to the Yes campaign. Three were said by Clegg. I didn't pay any attention to what the politicians said as they are obviously biased.

Of the four misleading No statement, three were said by the No campaign. And there TV ad was shocking.

The No campaign was very tabloid, a load of unsubstantiated opinions. The Yes campaign was ok.

pointydog · 05/05/2011 21:13

'their' natch. I hang my head

pointydog · 05/05/2011 21:14

Politicians are the last people you should listen to re this issue.

foxinsocks · 05/05/2011 21:16

The ads pointy?

Did you see that horrendous Yes ad with the coffee house vs pub?

About 2 mins in you just wanted to SCREAM oh ffs, you're all coming round to mine if you can't decide! They couldn't organise 5 students into going for a drink!

NimpyWindowmash · 05/05/2011 21:18

I thought the Yes campaign was woeful. I got a leaflet through my door explaining how AV would make MPs work harder and stop them fiddling their expenses. What rubbish.

pointydog · 05/05/2011 21:18

Yes, fox! But that's what I meant. Lacklustre was a euphemism for 'not very good' but trying to explain very patiently.

But it wasn't ridiculous junk like 'only 3 countries use it so it's shit'. 'It's too complicated innit'.

I'd go for patient, cheesy but truthful every time, I'm afraid. And Dan Snow was most helpful.

foxinsocks · 05/05/2011 21:22

Lol good dan

candleshoe · 05/05/2011 21:23

JUST VOTED NO!

pointydog · 05/05/2011 21:24

The Yes campaign had three main points.

Make Mps work harder - bit dodgy, depends on how you proceed with the argument
The other two arguments were absolutely fair enough. Sensible.

The No campaign had three main points.
Complicated - er, no
Expensive - no, does not have to be
I'll have to check the third again but it was also cack.

chillistars · 05/05/2011 21:25

No, with the economic problems this country has got at the moment it is not the time to spend millions on overhauling the election system - whether it needs it or not.

If it's not broken don't fix it - at the moment anyway. It's something for the boom instead of the bust.

pointydog · 05/05/2011 21:28

Why will it cost millions, chilli?

Oh yeah, the No lot's 3rd main reason for saying no was that it was a politicians' fix. There's intelligent debate. Oh, and that it will end democracy in the UK.

There are no such ludicrous claims on the Yes side.

I was completely undecided two weeks ago. Had no idea and wasn't that interested. I have just looked at the Yes and No websites for the first time. The No campaign site is almost drooling and knuckle dragging. It really is.

Swedes2 · 05/05/2011 21:46

Foxinsocks Grin

The YES campaign failed to get their message across. At one point I was almost convinced and then I read something else that left me reaching for the imperfect status quo. Shame as I think I was very convinceable.

DH voted NO. My 19 year old son voted YES, and we went together. So we cancelled each other out. We should have had a beer at home and not bothered.

WinkyWinkola · 05/05/2011 22:29

What did you read Swedes, that changed your mind?

And it's not about cancelling each other out, surely? It's about the individual's right to vote.

It's going to be a crushing no anyway. Sigh. I mean, I think there's lots of scope for reform in many areas in the UK, not least the voting system. And now it's never going to happen.

midlandsmumof4 · 06/05/2011 00:45

No from me.......

sprogger · 06/05/2011 08:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

melikalikimaka · 06/05/2011 08:24

I used my vote to say No. At least I got there instead of moaning about it.

stuffedmk · 06/05/2011 10:16

YES!!

Change has to start somewhere and if this doesn't go through then the hope of PR is all but lost.

Butkin · 06/05/2011 11:54

Voted no although dead when we voted (around 6.30pm) as nothing else to vote for in our area so I expect the turn out to be very poor.