General Chat

"We live in a country that operates a simple concept, one person, one vote - so why do some MPs not understand it and continue to vote in opposition to the wishes of their constituents? "

1. The UK does NOT operate a simple concept of one person, one vote. It opetrates a system of representative democracy whereby people vote for a representative to represent them in parliament.

2. The MPs are representatives not delegates. They represent the whole of their constituency, not just those who voted for the MP's party. When they vote they have to consider the party policy as carried out by the whips, the wider interests of the constituency and their own personal views on the matter.

Taken together these two points are a long way from the populism that some believe is democracy eg the yellow vests in France and the clowns screwing up Italy.

Until 1975 referendums were considered to be profoundly undemocratic, a device of tyrants. The referendum of that year, on the basis of UK membership of the European Community (as it then was) was the first ever referendum in the UK. The cause, as now, was a split party in power and a split opposition. Remain won approx 65-35%.

Brexiters now say a third (what they call a second ) referendum is not democratic because they are likekly to lose it . Their main strategy is to block any such referendum. If they succeed and the country crashes out the ensuing chaos will not grant the brexiters a kind justice.

Meanwhile the Maybot plots her gotterdammerung in the bunkers of Whitehall and the Chequers Berghof.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BhLjTmSWxg

Ian Paisley (Snr) used to enquire regularly of anyone willing to listen: "Where do we go from here?" :-S

Rock, paper, scissors. comes to mind.

Carry on voting til they get what they want ?