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Left Foot Forward > Published by Guest, May 10th 2010 at 4:03 pm

Pressure mounts on Clegg not to “sell out” over electoral reform

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Two adverts telling Nick Clegg not to ‘sell out’ on getting a proportional system appeared in national newspapers today. Supported by 38 Degrees, Vote for a Change and Take Back Parliament, the adverts’ message is very simple: Fair Votes Now. But what makes them so much harder for politicians to ignore is the huge swell of public support which lies behind them.

38-degrees-fair-votes-now-adThousands of people have been in touch with senior Liberal Democrats over the last four days telling them not to give up on getting a proportional system. Several hundred took part in demonstrations over the weekend with the same demand.

Perhaps most remarkably, today’s adverts were paid for by thousands of small donations from 38 Degrees members, who raised enough money to pay for the ads – including a full page advert in the Times – in just a few hours yesterday evening; so far, nearly £20,000 has been donated – see a running total of donations here.

As talks intensify between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, 38 Degrees members will keep up the pressure on the Liberal Democrat leader not to forget his commitment to a fairer voting system. With a huge and growing people-powered movement calling for change, his chances of delivering real reform have never been better.

  • http://twitter.com/houseoftwits/status/13731346596 House Of Twits

    RT @leftfootfwd Pressure mounts on Clegg not to "sell out" over electoral reform: http://bit.ly/cfuwwX

  • http://twitter.com/mrpower/status/13731655307 Mike Power

    "huge swell of public support"… "Several hundred took part in demonstrations" http://bit.ly/c1mrof 25.5 MILLION voted! What planet U on

  • http://twitter.com/robajackson/status/13731874992 Rob Jackson

    RT: @leftfootfwd: Pressure mounts on Clegg not to "sell out" over electoral reform: http://bit.ly/cfuwwX

  • http://twitter.com/stephenwest/status/13733146532 Stephen West

    RT @mrpower: "huge swell of public support"… "Several hundred took part in demonstrations" http://bit.ly/c1mrof 25.5 MILLION voted! What planet U on

  • http://twitter.com/leftfootfwd/status/13731156399 Left Foot Forward

    Pressure mounts on Clegg not to "sell out" over electoral reform: http://bit.ly/cfuwwX

  • http://twitter.com/goodoldmj/status/13731236483 Martin Johnston

    RT @leftfootfwd: Pressure mounts on Clegg not to "sell out" over electoral reform: http://bit.ly/cfuwwX

  • http://twitter.com/seancourt/status/13731570002 Sean Court

    RT @leftfootfwd: Pressure mounts on Clegg not to "sell out" over electoral reform: http://bit.ly/cfuwwX

  • http://twitter.com/ntlk/status/13735087249 Natalia

    RT @leftfootfwd: Pressure mounts on Clegg not to "sell out" over electoral reform: http://bit.ly/cfuwwX

  • Daniel Harley

    First-Past-The-Post – a government elected with less than 50% of the support of the electorate and making it difficult for small parties to gain even a single seat – how very flawed!

    Yet … PR … doesn’t that take the power to decide government AWAY from the electorate, giving it to the small party kingmakers? Who is deciding the government of 2010 at the moment? Certainly isn’t you and me, it’s Clegg!

    And policies, well many of you who voted for Nick Clegg’s party because say you loved his stance on Trident or Europe, well im afraid to say a hung parliament means you have very little chance of having these policies enacted! As would happen with EVERY election if you changed the electoral system.

    Come on people you can see this government by committee is less appealing than government of the people, by the people, for the people!

    In Germany one party has been in coalition since they adopted the system. Don’t you like the idea of throwing the party you dislike out?

    We are split in this nation on a cleavage of class. Always have been always will be and that is the cause of the 2 party system! If people get out there and vote, our electoral system makes no difference they can have whoever they like!

    Come on people – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

  • http://twitter.com/veganpanda/status/13745573085 Vegan Panda

    RT @leftfootfwd: Pressure mounts on Clegg not to "sell out" over electoral reform: http://bit.ly/cfuwwX

  • Modicum

    @Daniel Harley:

    “In Germany one party has been in coalition since they adopted the system. Don’t you like the idea of throwing the party you dislike out?”

    Please get your facts straight before spreading misinformation about PR. The last four coalition governments in Germany have been:

    Christian Democrats + FDP (2009-present)
    Christian Democrats + Social Democrats (2005-2009)
    Social Democrats + Greens (1998-2005)
    Christian Democrats + FDP (1980 – 1998)

    In contrast in the UK there has only been one change of government in the last thirty years. Despite the fact that in every single election in the last three decades a majority of electors have voted against the incumbent party. So in what way is “FPTP” better at throwing out unpopular governments?

  • Daniel Harley

    Sorry @Modicum! However you can’t exactly call that a shift in government can you? Also attacking a minor flaw in my argument hardly debunks my comment.

    Look at how ultra marginal all the German political parties are! They have to stand for nothing to get elected. Is this the kind of system we want, purely so that we can say percentage of votes = percentage of seats?

    And why should those smaller parties be the ones who decide on policy and who forms the government. What is fair about that pleaes?