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July 25, 2008
It don't mean a thing if your seat's not a swing
A recount in Glasgow East, so still waiting for the result. In the meantime, here's Fraser Nelson making a salient point at this late hour:
"You don’t mean a thing if your seat’s not a swing – that is the rule which governs Britain’s constituency voting system. Its worst aspect is the emergence of modern day rotten boroughs, where no mainstream party votes. The more I hear from Glasgow, the more likely it looks that the forgotten voters of Glasgow East might – just might – trigger that political earthquake. If it does, it will be for a simple reason: it’s difficult for Labour to turn out your voters if you have never really bothered to find out who they are, or where they live. Difficult to find out at short notice, if your grassroots operation has atrophied. Word tonight is the SNP has canvassed far better, with its highly motivated activists determined to make this the most significant by-election since Hamilton East."
2.06am update: John Curtice and his fellow commentator were just about to be asked about this very question: why was it that so few people in this constituency had been canvassed in living memory? Sadly interrupted by an announcement from the returning officer and the moment is lost. Maybe I'll try emailing John tomorrow and getting his response anyway.
Posted by malcolmclark on July 25, 2008
Comments
Fraser Nelson has made several comments now about safe seats. I hope Tories get the message.
The SNP will have benefited from STV local elections, giving them good grass roots representation.
Labour and the Tories need to realise that STV at local level in England and Wales would re invigorate local parties in traditional 'no go' areas- Labour in Surrey and Tories in South Yorkshire for example.
Posted by: Andrew Kitching at July 25, 2008 09:52 PM
Alex Hilton has written well on the same topic, in his piece for the Indy / labourhome. Thought it worth quoting his words:
"Our withering democracy really is part of the problem. It is said that in Glasgow East, Labour hadn't canvassed voters for years, taking this safe seat for granted. This is what parties do in safe seats. Only exceptional MPs prioritise campaigning in safe seats because there are so many other things to do. We have a system that forces parties to focus their efforts on 50-100 seats, We have a system that tells people there's no point in voting if you don't live in one of those seats, a system that contributes to young people feeling they have no influence over the society to which they are subject."
Posted by: Malcolm Clark at July 26, 2008 02:31 AM
The very use of STV for the first time, resulting in truly representative local authorities, can hardly fail to get people talking - even in constituencies like East Glasgow.
The peasants are beginning to get ideas above their station - at long last! They're a canny lot up there.
Posted by: Nigel Baldwin at July 26, 2008 12:58 PM
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