Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
3 November 2010
01:2378196#1
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11680413
Interestingly the bill also proposes to reduce the seats in the Commons by 50 to 600, personally I think this is still 100 too many, but it is a start
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
3 November 2010
07:3678206#2
The seat reduction was a Conservative manifesto pledge Ross.
I understand what you say about reducing the Commons further, but because the Executive is taken largely from The Commons, a smaller number of seats would simply increase the power of the executive at the expense of backbenchers. I think, for that reason, a reduction of 50 is about right.
Do the maths:
600 seats - a government majority would be 301.
The payroll vote of Ministers/Junior Ministers/Whips etc would be over a third of that, about 100+.
Reduce the number of seats to 500, majority 251 - a payroll vote of 100+ - that leaves just 150 government backbenchers many of whom will be eager to suck up in the hope of future Ministerial appointments. There is not a lot of room left for the good old back-bench maverick and rebel that we need in a legislature.
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
3 November 2010
08:2578214#3
True Barry if we were to retain the current status quo, however in the Mantra of "Big Society" (smaller state?) surely we should following all the custs be able to reduce the number of Ministers etc.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
3 November 2010
08:3578216#4
Ah, there I agree Ross, but we have to face the reality. Even if the present government were willing to do so no future government would be bound by that. Better to keep more backbenchers and to make sure there is room for some rebels.
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
3 November 2010
09:3578229#5
True
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
3 November 2010
13:3978273#6
having just watched prime minister's question time, i would suggest getting rid of the whole lot, people get thrown out of pubs for a lot less raucous behaviour.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
3 November 2010
16:3078299#7
howard
your not far wrong
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