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Let's have a positive voting system
DEMOCRACY, whilst imperfect, is too important for us to allow it to be fatally damaged by current concerns over MPs, their expenses and the trust the public have in them.
Let me repeat that where the law has been broken or rules disobeyed then appropriate punishment should follow. I trust the independent Kelly committee to come up with proposals for reforming expenses which are workable and fair.
Meanwhile, local elections this week will determine how key services are delivered in High Peak. Schools, nurseries, social services and highways are the responsibility of Derbyshire County Council. European elections will determine who represents you in that Parliament. Trade, environmental issues and two million jobs in this country depend on that vote.
Politicians are the servants of the people and not their masters. We should redouble our efforts to make services which are delivered within communities more accountable to those communities. Individualised health care, safer neighbourhood teams and community forums are just some of the tools we need to use better.
We also need to change the outward face of politics in two simple ways: changing how we elect our representatives and fixing the term of our Parliaments.
I have long supported a voting system where instead of an 'X' we vote '1, 2, 3.' If no-one gets an overall majority, the lowest person's 'twos' are reallocated until someone has 50%+1 votes. The victor then knows that they have at least the qualified support of over half of their voters.
Whilst it is not a proportional method, the Alternative Vote is healthier than today's voting system. In most seats, in most elections, more people cast a vote against their MP than vote for them.
AV retains the local constituency link and does not return unelected or unaccountable MPs like the top-up system in Wales does. It's worth a try.
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Weather for Buxton
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -6 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -4 C to -1 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
