Lib Nodems

[NellieMay]

No link. Just a question from me. First of all they don't respect our democracy by saying they will drop Brexit they if they get into power and now they are planning rigging the general election results, by stopping voters voting for their choice of party in some constituencies. How can they get away with this? Surely it should be challenged!

[ichkeria]

Lol

[dannyk13]

Ich, why is it funny?

[naomi24]

There must be something under Trades Description legislation. Democrats they are not.

[ToraToraTora]

I assume you mean that by having a pact among parties they in effect take away one candidate or other and as such remove voter options. Yes correct that is the effect. It is within the rules even though the Lib NonDem name seems to get ever further from what they actually practice.

[ichkeria]

Well,
If a party gets enough votes to be in power that is democracy I always thought. And if they don’t well why worry about it?
Electoral pacts isn’t rigging election results, whether it’s these three parties or whether it’s the Tory party and the Brexit party.

[NellieMay]

Why the LOL Ichkeria.

[Old_Geezer]

Opting not to stand in a particular constituency is a right. Forming alliances is a political move. Unsure why that would be challenged.

To any normal folk they are seen as being undemocratic; but don't dismiss a debater's ability to argue and convince that up is down, left is right, and undemocracy is the new democracy. Probably get legal backing for the Newspeak too judging from recent events.

Good luck with your challenge.

[dannyk13]

Ich, two posters have asked why you think that this is funny?

[ToraToraTora]

it seems not everyone is going along with it though:
https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/mike-powell-welsh-lib-dems-unite-to-remain-1-6363864

[NellieMay]

It is rigging. If I wanted to vote for The green party and couldn't vote for them I certinly wouldn't vote for Lib Dem because of this pact.

[Old_Geezer]

It may well be democratic that the party with the most votes gets into power. So far so good. But what happens when that party, or it's opposition gets power may not be democratic at all. One simply has to note the thwarting of progress on Brexit to know that, that's an undeniable truth.

[ToraToraTora]

....and they are not the only ones either....
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/labour-and-tories-will-sit-back-to-let-lib-dems-oust-blackford-s77mrgtxj

[NellieMay]

Great link TTT. Thank you. It proves my point!

[Old_Geezer]

And you aren't obliged to Nell. You may vote for a different candidate, or exercise your right to abstain and not encourage any of those put forward.

[ichkeria]

Don’t forget that a lot of people here have been calling for the Tory party and the Brexit party to do just what the Lib Dems, Greens and Plaid Cymru do.
In many constituencies in NI it happens all the time. There’s been a big fuss in NI because the new leader of the hapless Ulster Unionist party said he would not stand down candidates in seats where fielding two unionists might let in Sinn Fein. Then he was forced to recant. Pacts always happen when there’s a common cause (Unionist/republican, Brexit/Remain etc ) which is seem to transcend party politics.

[dannyk13]

Ich, for the third time of asking, why do you think that this is funny?

[Old_Geezer]

Illiberal Undemocrat or SNP win, does it make much difference ? Although I suppose it might put a kink in the indref2 bandwagon maybe.

[ToraToraTora]

your point is valid nellie but this kind of tactic is legal and they all do it to some extent. As you say above the party you want to vote for may not be standing because of a pact, but also they may not be standing simply because they are not targeting the seat. Eg not sure if the Greens generally stand in every seat but if they do it's £325k in deposits alone and most of it will be lost, that is a consideration for smaller parties.

[dannyk13]

TTT, there is a subtle difference between a candidate not standing and one being asked to stand down.

[diddlydo]

No party can be obliged to field a candidate in a General Election. In my constituency neither Labour nor the LibDems put up a candidate in the last 3 elections as the seat was held by the "sitting tenant" John Bercow so I was effectively disenfranchised. Nothing I could do about that. This time round at least I'll have a meaningful vote which I may well use tactically.