MMP’s failings
Alan Bowden can’t see MMP’s deficiencies and inadequacies, despite this election’s freakish outcome - but that’s how it is on the Left.
Given a whiff of electoral advantage, whole forests won’t be seen for the trees.
On a couple of occasions FPP was anomalous, the total votes cast didn’t determine the balance of seats- but electorates, not individual votes, determined parliaments.
In 1978 and 1981, the anomalies stemmed from Electoral Commission’s boundary settings, but to see that as ‘‘gerrymandering’’ or ‘‘boundary manipulation’’ as Mr Bowden touted is nonsense.
The Electoral Commission is structured to be politicallyneutral/politically-indifferent and settings are near as can be - but they’re never perfect.
Labouring the trivial, Mr Bowden ignored FPP’s advantages over MMP- final results available election-day evening- every MP represents an electorate and is first choice of that electorate.
Unlike under MMP, FPP parties are elected by public confidence on policies expected to be seen implemented.
‘‘Compromise’’ coalitiongovernment is unworkable - a nonsense that costs electors dearly.
Watered-down objectives almost never germinate which benefits no-one. Mr Bowden’s observation that 20 out of 27 EEC countries have coalitions makes me wonder how really hard he’s looked at the EEC.
Think. Why does Britain want so badly to get out?