Lib Dem conference: Steve Coogan and Carol Vorderman lead rally for proportional representation
The comedian and the presenter are among high profile backers for the party, using video messages to call for electoral reform and "reflect the will of the nation".
Statistics from the party said the Conservatives now have 56% of seats in the Commons, despite only receiving 44% of total vote share at the last election.
Lib Dem parliamentary representation in the Commons amounts to a mere 1.6%, even though they secured 11.6% of the vote.
Once in power, none of the main political parties has any interest in trying to "reflect the will of the people", whatever that means. A more equitable distribution of seats would reflect the power of the media, propaganda and voting habits, but that's what happens now.
Seat numbers aren't particularly important if government policies are almost entirely passed top-down from the permanent administration, which they most certainly are. All Lib Dems would do is present things slightly differently, bungling and totalitarian incompetence would become more virtuous.
It's not easy to see why celebrities endorse political parties. No good can come from mingling with charlatans and nutters.
It's not easy to see why celebrities endorse political parties. No good can come from mingling with charlatans and nutters.
4 comments:
Perhaps most celebrities are too self centred to realise that they are no more than a mascot to a political party, or possibly an advertising 'hook' for a commercial business.
I dislike Gary Lineker. Now I won't buy Walkers crisps. Celebrity works both ways.
"Lib Dem parliamentary representation in the Commons amounts to a mere 1.6%, even though they secured 11.6% of the vote."
Sure, let them have 11.6% representation in the Commons, then. Along with the correct representation for those who want to restore the death penalty, and those who would summarily deport economic migrants. Deal?
But I don't really see why we need a House of Commons. Why don't we just hand the whole show over to celebrities and popular entertainers?
What we would find would be that certain canditates, parties, movements are too extreme, fascist, racist, anti illegal immigration, anti LBGQWERTY+, make up your own, to even have access to social media, msm, let alone have a name on a voting card.
So it would still be down to same bunch of string pullers who we we would be permitted to vote for.
The SNP might do quite well in England.I
DJ - some celebrities probably see the Lib Dems as a fairly harmless way to gain a bit of publicity without realising that there may be a Gary Lineker effect.
Sam - yes that's a good point, equitable parliamentary representation isn't anything like the same as equitable voter representation. There is no point to one without the other.
Doonhamer - I agree, we've reached a point where genuine reformers wouldn't even become candidates and reforming parties will be ferociously attacked.
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