Quizzes & Puzzles2 mins ago
Does Electoral Law Need Reform?
28 Answers
https:/ /www.th eguardi an.com/ politic s/2018/ jun/26/ uk-demo cracy-u nder-th reat-an d-refor m-is-ur gent-sa ys-elec toral-r egulato r
The Electoral Commission has warned that UK democracy is under threat unless a number of reforms are brought in, including:
- Requiring all digital campaigns to state their source of funding.
- Explicitly barring foreign organisations or individuals from spending on UK elections.
- Requiring campaigns to declare their spending sooner.
- Increasing the maximum fine per offense from its current £20,000 for those who breach electoral spending limits.
Do you agree that electoral law needs urgent reform? And do you agree with these proposals?
To me it seems quite worrying that some of these were not already in place. Although, the imposition of fines at all on those who break electoral law seems utterly toothless. So many of these people are million/billionaires, it is utterly insignificant to them (Leave.Eu was fined £70k when its co-founder is a multimillionaire). At the very least such an offence should warrant a criminal record.
The Electoral Commission has warned that UK democracy is under threat unless a number of reforms are brought in, including:
- Requiring all digital campaigns to state their source of funding.
- Explicitly barring foreign organisations or individuals from spending on UK elections.
- Requiring campaigns to declare their spending sooner.
- Increasing the maximum fine per offense from its current £20,000 for those who breach electoral spending limits.
Do you agree that electoral law needs urgent reform? And do you agree with these proposals?
To me it seems quite worrying that some of these were not already in place. Although, the imposition of fines at all on those who break electoral law seems utterly toothless. So many of these people are million/billionaires, it is utterly insignificant to them (Leave.Eu was fined £70k when its co-founder is a multimillionaire). At the very least such an offence should warrant a criminal record.
Answers
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by Kromovaracun. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.No idea how urgent it is as I don't know the scale of any problem. The suggestions are worth discussing though by those in the know.
If the founder of Leave.Eu should have a criminal record then it should also apply to those in government at the time that put out the remain leaflets etc. and pretended it wasn't campaigning and need not be counted in the budget for it.
If the founder of Leave.Eu should have a criminal record then it should also apply to those in government at the time that put out the remain leaflets etc. and pretended it wasn't campaigning and need not be counted in the budget for it.
//it should also apply to those in government at the time that put out the remain leaflets etc. and pretended it wasn't campaigning and need not be counted in the budget for it. //
I agree, it was extremely cynical. It is quite worrying indeed that the electoral commission does not seem concerned at all about the threat of incumbent governments interfering in democracy unfairly.
I agree, it was extremely cynical. It is quite worrying indeed that the electoral commission does not seem concerned at all about the threat of incumbent governments interfering in democracy unfairly.
Are we any nearer to finding out where The Constitutional Research Council got £425,000 to donate to the DUP, who then used it for advertisements in a newspaper that isn’t even distributed in Northern Ireland ?
// The Constitutional Research Council (CRC) can today be revealed as the mystery donor that funded the party's drive for the UK to leave the European Union.
It is chaired by Richard Cook, a former vice-chairman of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
The group donated £425,622 to the DUP, which funded a series of pro-Leave adverts, including a high-profile wraparound ad in the Metro newspaper. //
All very fishy. Especially when Avid UKIPer Aaron Banks was coordinating his efforts with the Russians.
// The Constitutional Research Council (CRC) can today be revealed as the mystery donor that funded the party's drive for the UK to leave the European Union.
It is chaired by Richard Cook, a former vice-chairman of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
The group donated £425,622 to the DUP, which funded a series of pro-Leave adverts, including a high-profile wraparound ad in the Metro newspaper. //
All very fishy. Especially when Avid UKIPer Aaron Banks was coordinating his efforts with the Russians.
Single votes only matter in marginal constituencies anyway. Campaign finance has a direct impact on the manifesto/policy promises that party leaders make. In nationwide campaigns like referenda, spending has a huge impact on "reach", communications, etc.
Why do you think restrictions on election spending exist at all? What do you think the impact of abolishing them entirely would be?
Why do you think restrictions on election spending exist at all? What do you think the impact of abolishing them entirely would be?
// straighten out the electoral system in an unbiased way. //
What does that even mean?
Our "bias" should be towards solving the biggest structural issues in our electoral system, surely? If postal voting fraud is a widepsread problem, I'm all ears to suggestions as to how it can be made more difficult. I'm not sure it's very fair to just abolish it though.
What does that even mean?
Our "bias" should be towards solving the biggest structural issues in our electoral system, surely? If postal voting fraud is a widepsread problem, I'm all ears to suggestions as to how it can be made more difficult. I'm not sure it's very fair to just abolish it though.
I am very confused.
Are you really, truly comfortable with the idea of the richest people in the UK overwhelming all opposition to their interests through sheer spending power? Because that's what you'd be getting without any campaign finance restrictions. Furthermore the system you're describing there cannot possibly be a democracy - it would be an oligarchy.
Are you really, truly comfortable with the idea of the richest people in the UK overwhelming all opposition to their interests through sheer spending power? Because that's what you'd be getting without any campaign finance restrictions. Furthermore the system you're describing there cannot possibly be a democracy - it would be an oligarchy.
"Are you really, truly comfortable with the idea of the richest people in the UK overwhelming all opposition to their interests through sheer spending power?"
Well actually I cant see anyone saying that. All that is being argued is that if undertaking Electoral reform you dont concentrate on individual hobby horses and sort the whole lot out together.
But for some reason you don't want to do that, you just want the spending bit done. Why is that I wonder?
Well actually I cant see anyone saying that. All that is being argued is that if undertaking Electoral reform you dont concentrate on individual hobby horses and sort the whole lot out together.
But for some reason you don't want to do that, you just want the spending bit done. Why is that I wonder?
https:/ /www.br itannic a.com/t opic/Un ited-St ates-ca mpaign- finance -law
The USA has had a decades long battle that is still ongoing over campaign finance and until 2010 actually had harsher campaign finance rules than we do. The whole reason they have this fight is because the better-funded candidate wins in 90%+ of cases, and US elections at all levels are notorious for being influenced by dirty money on both sides. It can barely be called a functional democracy.
If you want to live under the US system, 3T, go there. I do not want the UK to slide into becoming like the US.
The USA has had a decades long battle that is still ongoing over campaign finance and until 2010 actually had harsher campaign finance rules than we do. The whole reason they have this fight is because the better-funded candidate wins in 90%+ of cases, and US elections at all levels are notorious for being influenced by dirty money on both sides. It can barely be called a functional democracy.
If you want to live under the US system, 3T, go there. I do not want the UK to slide into becoming like the US.
Related Questions
Sorry, we can't find any related questions. Try using the search bar at the top of the page to search for some keywords, or choose a topic and submit your own question.