Who thinks it would be better if the British Parliament were hung?

[bankside]

Who's looking forward to a well-hung British Parliament after the election?

Brits! Let us know what you think.

 

[kallipolis]

I am Greek, but have lived in the UK. And follow UK politics closely.

The Conservative Party is attempting to scare the electorate by suggesting that a hung parliament will create some other website.

In reality a hung parliament creates a coalition government.

On the basis of today's opinion polls the UK could be facing a Liberal Party/Conservative Party coalition government.

Nick Clegg as leader of The Liberal Democratic Party might well make a very competent British prime minister.

From the constitutional law angle, this matter could place Queen Elizabeth, in the position of having to make a choice. I rather suspect that she would wish that she would not have to make such a choice.

If I were a UK citizen, I would vote for the Lib-Dems. Just to make a change.

 

[unloadonme]

A hung parliament would be a disaster. Minority parties, not just the Liberals, but the nationalists too, would have a disproportionate influence and force the largest party to adopt some of their generally unpopular policies as a condition of support.

I hope there won't be a hung parliament, but I fear there will be. It'll spell trouble and an early re-run of the election.

 

[BiMike]

^ I agree with the above. Minority parties would have too much influence, just look at the stance of SNP for Scoland and the Welsh nationalists already looking for special treatment for their support! The worst case for a hung government is Israel where the extremist parties always have major influence.
The present voting system in the UK requires revision to produce results reflecting the votes caste but not let us have a system that produces colalition governments!

 

[Willie Boy]

Their spouses would probably prefer them to be hung (like horses most likely! )

 

[kallipolis]

A hung parliament would be a disaster. Minority parties, not just the Liberals, but the nationalists too, would have a disproportionate influence and force the largest party to adopt some of their generally unpopular policies as a condition of support.

I hope there won't be a hung parliament, but I fear there will be. It'll spell trouble and an early re-run of the election.

I hope that there is a hung parliament. It would break the familiar role of the two major parties, and open the doors of parliament to a long overdue refreshing wind of change.

A coalition government would be very welcome. The Irish DUP are allied with the Conservatives. The Welsh nationalists are not a factor. The Scots have their own parliament. Where's the problem with the nationalists? What unpopular policies?

 

[Zu-Mendel]

The alternative could be you would have a government like America, where your only choices are the Conservatives or the BNP.

 

[bankside]

Though I can't vote in the UK, my husband could have if he'd registered. I must say a hung parliament is working pretty well in Canada..keeps them on their toes, knowing it could fall at any time.

 

[Jack Springer]

Do you mean hung as in big dicks?

 

[bankside]

LOL. Sadly no.

In Canada it would be called a "minority parliament," where the political party winning the most seats still falls short of an actual majority of the seats. Thus they usually form the government, but they do so as a minority.

The same situation in the UK is called a "hung parliament."

 

[NotThatCreative]

If there's a hung parliament I seriously doubt the Lib Dems wouldn't team up with either Labour (sans Gordon Brown perhaps) or Conservative parties to create a coalition government, in exchange for electoral reforms, which are needed in Great Britain. Westminster is too majoritarian, I think. And if that means more power to the SNP and Plaid Cymru, I'm happy with that (*crosses fingers hoping for Scottish independence*).

Israel's problem is that they have no threshold. There are plenty of proportional representation systems with thresholds where there isn't nearly as much of a problem with extreme parties. And a hung British parliament would not give power to the likes of the BNP. No way would Labour, Conservatives, Lib Dems, SNP, or Plaid Cymru work with them. Firstly because they hate the BNP, but secondly because it'd be very risky politically.

 

[The_Reaper]

As a Canadian who has had to suffer the last few years with a minority government, effectively the same thing, I can tell you that it would be better if you just elected an outright majority government.

When The Conservatives are elected in Britain, I suspect the Labour Party will become much like the Liberals here; spending a lot of time licking their wounds, and ranting and raving, but then doing nothing to actually stand up against bills they disagree with because they don't want to bring the government down.

If anything, it should give the Liberal Democrats a chance to shine as they could end up holding the balance of power, and as such, gives them a chance to show they are a valid alternative to the other two parties. The NDP has been trying for awhile to establish themselves as an alternative to the Cons/Libs, and I think they've made great leaps in doing that over Harper's time as Prime Minister...So, it's likely the Lib Dems could do the same in the UK.

 

[taxi_ride]

I think we should have a public hanging for them all.

But it has to be said I think it's time Britain was fiscally conservative. I'll vote DC x

 

[bankside]

Well I think it is a little less likely to be hung after Mr. Brown's great little quip whilst the microphone was still running...

 

[evanrick]

gordon brown is talking about electoral reform and nick clegg doesnt really stand for anything. i dont see a reason to not vote for labour.

 

[kallipolis]

gordon brown is talking about electoral reform and nick clegg doesnt really stand for anything. i dont see a reason to not vote for labour.

Just on the off chance that you feel the need to be enlightened:


http://www.libdems.org.uk/our_manifesto.aspx

 

[BiMike]

gordon brown is talking about electoral reform and nick clegg doesnt really stand for anything. i dont see a reason to not vote for labour.

Vote for Gordon Brown you must be joking!

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS6vR0Na4hk[/ame]

 

[palemale]

I don't think the British Parliament should be hung. I suggest they be drawn and quartered instead.

 

[Kulindahr]

My first thought on seeing this thread was to ask, hey, if we're going to hang lawmakers, can we start with Congress?


My second was, if we have to have government, we may as well get some guys who are really hung.

 

[evanrick]

what strikes me is that all the candidates are ultra-liberal compared to even our president.