h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Given all the autunm shenanigens this is a pretty important question I think.

Is it really right that in a modern Liberal Democratic country that the Prime Minsiter should be able to choose the time of the next election? Would it not be more sensible to have a fixed term of office?

No, and then Yes.

Novo

So what happens if half way through a term of parliament the govenment has effectivly lost a workig majority and is unable to pursue a legislative agenda? Do we muddle on by until the next fixed date?

(I honestly am not sure on this one so I am looking forward to being informed by the expected high standard of debate!)

I agree with novo, fixed dates would be much better. The current system has a built in bias towards the incumbent government and that's not a good thing. If the problem of losing a working majority is serious, set the local election dates the same as the national election dates?

"If the problem of losing a working majority is serious, set the local election dates the same as the national election dates?"

How is the working majority or otherwise of Government related to Local elections?

It's the Americaaaan Waaaay!

Ofr course it can all go wrong too - Heath went to the country for a mandate - and lost.

However I think there should be a fixed election date, and is the government loses it's majority, it either has to struggle on as a minority party, form an alliance, or resign and hand over to the largest party.

Fb, er, yeah, well, brain malfunction aside - I mean, just don't have the possibility of the government losing a majority halfway through. Like Arnie said - the Americans do it right (most years, not in 2000).

Well we should definitely keep this system whilst there's a Labour PM

No seriously I prefer this system. Having the skill to choose when to call the election when its in your best interests, is an indication that you're a competent, 'winner' type, which the country needs its PM to be. And if you deserve to lose whenever it is called, like Major in '97, its hard cheese; the electorate knew the Tories were shot to pieces and inacapable of ever getting their act together to deserve re-elecction. I can't see it ever changing in any case. It would be like turkeys voting for christmas.

As I've said on the other thread, all this whining is just the usual Tory hypocrisy.

And did you call us Lib Dem country in that first post, FB?. Actually having fixed terms would be the kind of silly utopian thing they'd bring in if they ever got power...

Another thing that has occurred to me is that occassionally a governent despite their best attempts to stay in power, loses a vote of confidence like the Callaghan government in '79. And he deserved it probably. Much as I loathed what happened afterwards. Ironically if had called the elction the previous October he would have probably won. Therefore that's an indication of his poor judgement.

Liberal Democracy as in the "system of goverment" rather than the party. All of Western Europe are Liberal Democracys. Our system mind is a slightly abberant Liberal Democracy.

But given we have a political party called the Liberal Democrats the phrase should be in lower case.

I'd agree with fixed term parliaments. The current system further increases the executives power which is already too powerful.

Right remember "lower case" fez...

Another victory for pedantry

FB that was supposed to be a bit of a joke, maybe a bit lame, apologies.

I think if there was a fixed term, it might lead to real complacency by the party in power. They would have no motivation to keep the government from fragmenting into disagreement and muddle as there would be no vote of confidence worries in parliament. Also what motivation would the opposition have for keeping the govermnet on its toes, except towards the end of the fixed term.

Why do I get the feeling that I'm looking at an open goal?



Err.. Tony Bliar assured the electorate that he would serve a full term. Bottler Brown didn't even get elected to be New Labour leader, let alone PM. As to the skill of deciding when to go to the country

Well you should have absolutely nothing to worry about then WA. The electorate will never understand or forgive this outrageous, uniquely duplicitous politicking by the Labour party. Dave's a sure fire bet now, sooner or later.

Hi Fanny,

Nothing, absolutely nothing' is 'uniquely' duplicitous if done by New Labour.

Novo

erm... we do have a fixed term for parliament, five years - it's just not very often that a parliament last five years without the executive (the Queen) deciding (on the advice of her Prime Minister) that a new parliament is needed.

Didn't John Major limp to the very end of his term before losing the 97 election?