Absolutely it can, Parliament can do whatever it chooses. There is an argument, however, that a non-legally binding convention has emerged (quite recently) that significant constitutional change should be preceded by a referendum. However, I strongly suspect that the Brexit experience would lead politicians to conveniently overlook this if needs be.
More specifically, since the 1911 Parliament Act, the House of Commons can do whatever it chooses.....(including such major "constitutional" changes as the extension of the franchise to women).
We have a constitution, but it is not codified. It is clear that the voting system for Parliament is a "constitutional" matter, however.
I think that was similar to what was proposed last time. Not in favour of a transferrable vote as there are situations where people can get double say and maths can screw over the 2nd place (albeit unlikely). Voting is mandatory in Oz is it not? I would personally like that if there is a none of the above option. If we are to change the system to something more PR like then I think we should rank our top 3. If there is no overall majority with the top choices you then add in the all the 2nd choices and so on. I don't like the idea that only some people's 2nd choice gets counted which is how I think the transferable vote works. It evectively gives the losers more say. I think the smaller parties would benefit from lots of 2nd & 3rd choices and when these are applied to PR they should pick up more seats and hence more of a say in policy making which would greater reflect more of the population's thinking.
The 1918 Act that did that approved by the Lords though? Or was that only because the Commons threatened to pass it alone if they didn't?
It depends which bit you're interested in really. We have constitutional law, it's just not all bound together into a neat book. Want to know what ties the nations of the UK together? You need the Acts of Union. Want to know why Charlie boy took the oath he did at the weekend? See the Coronation Oath Act 1688. Want to know how the Supreme Court functions? That's in the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. And so on and tediously so forth...
Peter Hennessy is the guest on R4's Desert Island Discs and has just answered the question of "What is the British constittuion?" with "I don't know - I'm still looking for it...." and he quoted the late Queen, who was attending one of his seminars on 'The Constitution' (and he described her as "...the living embodiment of the British Constitution...") asking "...do you know I really don't know what is the British Constituion.". You're all frauds.
It does look very solid now doesn't it? The Labour Sunak posters potential own goal doesn't seem to have damaged them. And the Tories "boats, boats, boats" is not getting any traction at all with the swing voters it would seem. Plenty of time before the next GE for the economy to turn (even if it's just an easing of inflation) which may bring back some voters to the Tories "as the party of economic competence" But a Labour government or a LibLab coalition looks pretty much nailed on right now.
Interest rates are going to hurt people much, much more than any minor recovery to the economy and certainly much more than the cost of living rises. For a start, if inflation eases it will still mean prices rising. I had a conversation this week with someone who didn't understand that if inflation went from 10% to 5% prices wouldn't be falling, they'd just be rising less steeply. But interest rates is a massive ticking time bomb for millions of people, whether mortgage-holders or renters. Every month more and more people come out of fixed-term mortgage rates typically in the 1-3% range to find that the cheapest mortgages available are 4.5% and rising. Hundreds of pounds a month more to stand still. Yes, they had historic low mortgage rates but that just enabled house prices to rise so they gained very little benefit except the luxury of borrowing even more money. I know someone with a little portfolio of rental properties who has been frantically trying to fix the interest rates on the money he's borrowed. Net result is that rents will have to go up steeply just for his portfolio to wipe its face. The idea that interest rates will cool the insane housing market is undermined by the rise in mortgage products designed to keep prices high and rising. 100% mortgages or much smaller deposit requirements, fewer borrowing restrictions and longer mortgage terms. Absolutely barmy.
I think that last week's local election results overstated Tory support (there was mention of the Labour lead having dropped to high single digits). The turnout in those elections was low, which historically benefits the Conservatives, and there were no elections in London or Scotland. Although they were "real elections", these full UK (hopefully) representative samples are probably a better indication of the, currently intended, popular vote in the next GE. If the Tories can't get above 30% they will probably be wiped out in London. If the LibDems can get their their national voting intention share to 15% and maintain it until the GE, London will look like a red island in a yellow(ish) sea!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_constituencies_in_London We could potentially see the tories becoem the third party in greater London looking at this. Meister Manor will deffo go Labour if they can't convince the Albino ape to fling his **** elsewhere.
This is the 'equal population' map (representing each constituency by equal size of electorate as opposed to geographical area) of the predicted London vote at the next election: TBF (and AFAICR) all large urban areas traditionally vote Labour. There's something insane that 'most' of the top 10 safe seats (by massive majorities) are urban Labour seats.
6% attributed there to Reform. Unless they want to usher in a Labour Government, my guess is that they will show for the Tories again. Otherwise, I never understand the movement in opinion. I’ve not changed my voting intention ever, so I don’t understand what makes people shift.
If you look at the data in the graph for 'Reform' they show are pretty constant value of around 6%. They have four councillors - a gain of two at the recent election and all in Stoke (the original two were in the same ward).
Flat, a lot like the English political scene at the moment. Bar the fluff ouitrage stories that the public don't give a crap about. Not sure what the percentage of floating voters is but I bet with the mild swings of UK politial policy I would guess that apart from a natural drift right with age (a trend I see reducing) few actually change party support. Theres a few outstanding landmark eras, certainly in recent experience, Blair new labour, the Lib Dem tutition fees and pending SNP collapses maybe.
Reclaim has an MP, which must equal four councillors. Two crap, shyte flinging fringe parties, eating away at the Tories like gum disease. But which one of Reform and Reclaim is the shyttest? There’s only one way to find out! FIGHT!
Interestingly, those Tory data of around 28% match closely the 'Red Wall' poll figures commissioned by C4:
Some might, especially in marginals, but going by the comments on the average Telegraph or Mail political article plenty of them are done with the Tories completely. Basically the swivels think the current brand of Tory governance is too left wing.
I agree. Let's not forget that the UKIP candidates were withdrawn from many constituencies at the last election because Farage believed Johnson was swivel enough to support. How different that result may have been if UKIP had split the rightwing vote. I don't think Reform will stand aside this time....not for that lefty Sunak.
Very interesting article identifying the key demographic at the next election: The rise of Mavis man and woman Meet “Mavis”: the Middle-Aged, Volatile, Insurgent voters reshaping Britain’s politics. Who are they and what do they want for themselves and the country? Article reproduced for research purposes:
Latest polling from Bloomberg looks grim for the Tories. Is it possible that the British public have finally realised what a bunch of incompetents, spivs and charlatans are "governing" us?
They have, but they can usually be relied upon to forget. Expect a year long press carpet bombing along the lines of Labour To Tax Your Baby.
It's well underway, though it's funny to see the rank hypocrisy as they screech from their editorials 'Labour will do X' or 'Starmer will do Y', where X and Y are things the Tories have done in the past few years. A Labour government will lead to strikes you say? Starmer will rack up the deficit with his pet policies? The tax take will skyrocket?
I should think it being an attack on the 'well-off' and all, most readers will look at the moths flying out of their wallet/purse and rightly assume they doesn't include them.
Labour On Track For 140-Seat Majority At Next General Election, Bombshell Poll Shows Lightweights. Electoral calculus had this (from last week):
Just looking at the projections for the three (so far) constituencies up for grabs. These already should be taken with a pinch of salt and a by-election (which traditionally have very poor turnouts*) are likely to be a bit different. Nigel Adams and the new constituency of Selby: Mad Nad and the new Mid Beds: De Pfeffel and the new Uxbridge & South Ruislip: *Although I imagine the good citizens of Uxbridge and South Ruislip will buck this trend given the opportunity to give a show of thanks to De Pfeffel.
