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Sadiq Khan urges progressives to back him amid concern about new voting system (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 11 months ago by GreyShuck@feddit.uk to c/uk_politics@feddit.uk

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Sadiq Khan has warned progressive voters that they risk handing the London mayoralty to an “increasingly rightwing” Tory party unless they back Labour, amid concern in his camp that most Londoners are unaware of a complete overhaul of the voting system.

The battle for control of City Hall next May will be the first mayoral contest to switch to the first past the post voting system. It comes after a legal change last year that appears to be largely unknown among the capital’s voters. The previous system allowed voters to pick their second preference.

Only 30% of Londoners are aware of the change, according to a new Opinium poll. It has led to concern in Khan’s team that, despite his large poll lead, Liberal Democrat and Green voters will be unaware that they can no longer back him as their second preference, as many have done in the past.

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[–] automattable@lemmy.world 23 points 11 months ago (5 children)

Why did they change it in the first place? FPTP voting sucks.

[–] crab@lemm.ee 17 points 11 months ago

So the baddies have more chance of winning, as usual.

[–] TIN@feddit.uk 10 points 11 months ago

Let's change to the acknowledged worst voting system in the world! That will bring voters the stability they are looking for.

[–] HumanPenguin@feddit.uk 5 points 11 months ago

Agreed. But considering it is lib dem voters they are worried about. And changing FPTP has been a hu ge issue for LD since the 70s (at least my memory is only that old)

Honestly I'd expect them to recognise this more then anyone. Publicity of the change seems to be the biggest need. And how do they change it back.

[–] jabjoe@feddit.uk 5 points 11 months ago

Yes but it sucks in a way they benefit from. They stood little chance with functional democracy. It's literally an antidemocratic move.

[–] zolax@programming.dev 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

this change was made by the Tory government, btw.

here's the main part of the article copy-pasted (with important parts in bold):

Today, Minister for the Constitution and Devolution Chloe Smith has announced measures to apply the tried and tested system of First Past the Post to the election of council and ‘metro’ mayors across England, and to Police and Crime Commissioners across England and Wales.

In this May’s London Mayoral elections, the Supplementary Vote system saw hundreds of thousands void, wasted or blank votes cast, reflecting voter confusion and the complex system. Supplementary Vote also means that a ‘loser’ candidate can win on second preferences. In 1931, Winston Churchill described transferable voting as “the decision is to be determined by the most worthless votes given for the most worthless candidates.”

First Past the Post is the world’s most widely used electoral system. The change to First Past the Post will further strengthen the accountability of elected mayors and PCCs to their electorate, making it easier for voters to express a clear choice. The person chosen to represent a local area should be the one who directly receives the most votes.

Chloe Smith, Minister for the Constitution, said:

Britain’s long-standing national electoral system of First Past the Post ensures clearer accountability, and allows voters to kick out the politicians who don’t deliver. First Past the Post is fair and simple – the person with the most votes wins.

Kit Malthouse, Minister for Policing, said:

We are strengthening the accountability and role of Police and Crime Commissioners, to help cut crime and deliver on the people’s priorities.

Luke Hall, Minister for Local Government, said:

Elected mayors can provide strong leadership, and must be held to account at the ballot box. The supplementary vote is an anomaly which confuses the public and is out of step with other elections in England, both local and national. Moving to First Past the Post will make it easier for voters to express a clear choice.

edit: added link

[–] automattable@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

Whenever a YA novel has an oppressive government, they talk like the Tory’s.

the supplementary vote is an anomaly which confuses the public… moving to first past the post will make it easier for voters to express a clear choice

This is some dystopian government shit right here. My dude is gleefully saying some shit that is clearly not true and seeming to enjoy the dissonance that causes in mind of listeners.