AV Referendum

[TykeMerc]

and given this list includes Eddie Izzard and Stephen Fry, I'd vote no if they were campaigning to carry on not roasting babies on spits!

Fair point.

That's not on the referendum question list is it? I'd hate to give up part of my diet.

[Doggy Styles]

Extremists are likely to get more votes under AV.

[minestrone]

Don't feck with the formula.

[eek]

Extremists are likely to get more votes under AV.

But they won't be elected. We will however discover how many people actually support (even vaguely) the BNP and other marginal parties. The winner will probably still be the same Labour or Conservative monkey / hat stand that has always been elected.

[TheFaQQer]

Extremists are likely to get more votes under AV.

No they aren't. They will get the same number of votes as before, but some votes would mean something.

If extremists thought that they would get more votes under AV, then BNP would be backing a Yes vote, but they aren't.

[minestrone]

Extremists are likely to get more votes under AV.

Not with AV, it will hardly make a difference.

For that you want PR like we have up here, the BNP will get a seat in the next few weeks and the socialists are well presented.

[minestrone]

I have a Tory councilor, an SNP MSP, a labour MP and a Tory PM with a Lib DPM

What a mess.

[d000hg]

No they aren't. They will get the same number of votes as before, but some votes would mean something.

Well when people know the guy they want has no chance, and voting for them is pointless, they frequently vote for whichever person with a hope they least hate. At least, that's the LibDem's excuse all these years.

[TimberWolf]

I haven't voted for years, maybe because no one called years has been up for vote.

[centurian]

No they aren't. They will get the same number of votes as before, but some votes would mean something.

If extremists thought that they would get more votes under AV, then BNP would be backing a Yes vote, but they aren't.

Actually they could get more votes - because if you vote for any fringe candidate you are almost guaranteed of getting a 2nd vote - and maybe a third. Those voting for the "big" candidates only get 1 vote.

So this may encourage more people to vote for minority parties, knowing it is a "free" vote. That's the main criticism of AV - some people get more than 1 vote.

But although it means the BNP will get more votes, it make make it ever harder for them to get elected.

PR - now that's a different story. Nick Griffin will almost certainly be an MP under PR - along with a number of his colleagues. Last year, the BNP were the fifth largest party in terms of votes, getting more than the SNP, Greens and Plaid Cymru.