Comments on: Voting out the far-right http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/29/voting-out-the-far-right/ If there wasn't one before, it's time we started it... Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:50:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Different Duncan http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/29/voting-out-the-far-right/#comment-11549 Different Duncan Thu, 29 May 2008 11:37:21 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/29/voting-out-the-far-right/#comment-11549 Agreed. FPTP means that Labour need not worry too much about the BNP. The BNP may gain votes, but they won't gain seats. A little confused you mentioned Oxford West. This is Lib Dem held (by the thoroughly excellent Evan Harris), with the Tories in 2nd. I can't see how this has anything to do with your point... Agreed. FPTP means that Labour need not worry too much about the BNP. The BNP may gain votes, but they won’t gain seats.

A little confused you mentioned Oxford West. This is Lib Dem held (by the thoroughly excellent Evan Harris), with the Tories in 2nd. I can’t see how this has anything to do with your point…

]]> By: MatGB http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/29/voting-out-the-far-right/#comment-11548 MatGB Thu, 29 May 2008 11:22:54 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/05/29/voting-out-the-far-right/#comment-11548 "<i>So, could it be that ignoring its core support - and the rise in the BNP this threatens - is one of the prices we must pay for our first-past-the-post system?</i>" For as long as we've got it, yes. Both Downs and Duverger, and all the subsequent research based on their analysis, shows this to be true. It does of course cause problems at a local level and on councils, but that's how First Past the Post works. STV is naturally a much better way of ensuring this isn't a problem, as you need to appeal to all voters and make sure you don't marginalise your core support, under FPTP they've not really got anywhere else to go :-( “So, could it be that ignoring its core support - and the rise in the BNP this threatens - is one of the prices we must pay for our first-past-the-post system?”

For as long as we’ve got it, yes. Both Downs and Duverger, and all the subsequent research based on their analysis, shows this to be true. It does of course cause problems at a local level and on councils, but that’s how First Past the Post works.

STV is naturally a much better way of ensuring this isn’t a problem, as you need to appeal to all voters and make sure you don’t marginalise your core support, under FPTP they’ve not really got anywhere else to go :-(

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