Dawlish Discussion

I think you need a facebook or twitter account if you want to register with Swapmyvote but I thought I would post this in case anyone's interested.

"What if you are in a Lib Dem/Tory marginal?

Perhaps you can’t stand either party, but one of them is going to get the seat anyway.

However, every seat the Lib Dems take from the Tories reduces the Conservative’s chances of being the largest party. And the Lib Dems have said they wouldn’t support the full £12 billion in benefits cuts.

So you might be prepared to vote Lib Dem if a Lib Dem supporter in a Labour/Conservative marginal will vote Labour for you.

But could you trust a person claiming to be a Lib Dem supporter to vote Labour, when the party clearly favours another coalition with the Tories?

Well, perhaps. There are undoubtedly still some left-leaning Lib Dems and the Swap My Vote site gives you a chance to make contact and check out their political opinions, because you can only register using your Facebook or Twitter login.

But, even if they don’t keep their end of the bargain, you’re probably no worse off. Your vote will not have helped the Tories and their vote in their own constituency will make no difference.

Does vote swapping work?
Vote swapping is not new.

According to a 2005 article in the New Scientist:

“In the 2001 election, the Lib Dems captured Cheadle in Cheshire from the Conservatives with a majority of 33. Online vote trading had seen 47 Labour supporters in Cheadle agree to vote Lib Dem. Assuming they kept their bargain, these vote-traders turned the tide on the Conservatives. There was a similar result in South Dorset, where a Labour majority of 153 followed 185 internet vote-trade pledges.”

So, it’s legal and it quite possibly does make a difference.

The tactical voting alternative
In some circumstances, an alternative to vote swapping is traditional tactical voting. If you’re in a Lib Dem/Conservative marginal you could vote Lib Dem simply to try to deprive the Tories of a seat.

Clearly, whichever way the seat goes it’s still going to be part of any Tory/Lib Dem coalition. But, as noted above, the Lib Dems have said they will oppose the Conservative’s £12 billion benefits cuts plan, aiming to move it closer to their £3 billion cuts. Whether you believe them is another matter.

But voting Lib Dem will also reduce the chances of the Tories being the largest party, making it harder to argue that a Labour minority government lacks legitimacy.

Is it worth it?
Even if vote swapping is effective, could you bring yourself to trust a stranger with your vote?

Likewise, tactical voting definitely works, but could you put your cross next to a Lib Dem candidate?

Is it better to vote as your beliefs dictate and take the consequences, whatever they might be?

Only you can answer those questions for yourself." 

From: http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/3081-vote-swapping-and-tactical-voting-should-you-get-involved

If we are to break the stranglehold of the two largest parties we must secure electoral reform and a method of proportional representation in Parliament which truly and fairly reflects the views across the country, not just those hijacked by the 'first past the post' system.  To achieve this we need to show the support that really exists for the current minority parties.  This means voting for them if they represent the values you believe in.  Tactical voting will only perpetuate the two-party system.

Not having PR was a way or avoiding coalition governements but that's exactly what we've had and are likely to get so maybe now is the time to seriously consider it.  It's never really bothered me before but the idea that the strings could be pulled by SNP/UKIP/PC is crazy. 

We must remember of course that SNP members of parliament will have been elected by voters within the UNITED KINGDOM and will have a right to pull as many strings as they wish.  And also remember it wasn't that long ago that folk on this forum where totally against independance for Scotland now you cant have it both way's can you.

I wish the Scots had voted for independence last year, I was more than happy to see them go.  This isssue will just fester for the next few years, and I have no doubt they will end up walking away from the Union eventually.