The system’s defenders were outnumbered in the argument even as the margin stayed tight: No won by a narrow margin, while its voters supplied almost all the written case. This was less a settled rejection than a close verdict formed in a room where institutional suspicion spoke louder than constitutional reassurance.
The winning No case concentrated on representation and accountability. The floor’s most-respected objections pointed to “such a large majority with such a low share of the electorate voting for you”, alongside an unelected Lords, party control, quangos, civil servants and manifesto promises that evaporate once power is secured.
The losing Yes case was more coherent than its result suggests. Its strongest voice conceded the defects of first-past-the-post and proportional representation, but insisted: “It’s the people, not the system, that’s at fault”; another Yes voter called the arrangement “pretty democratic”, blaming apathy and arguing that even the appointed Lords can contain a “democratic element”.
The two sides often meant different things by democracy. Yes spoke about elections, evolving institutions and the need for a second chamber; No answered with immigration, Channel crossings, Brexit and Covid, asking, “When was the last time a gov did what the ppl needed?” A further strand treated the constitution itself as suspect — “More of a Republic than a democracy” — while complaints about career politicians, an unelected head of state and an “mild cartel” widened the case from electoral mechanics to public estrangement.
On this self-selected platform vote, the chamber did not produce a confident constitutional doctrine. It produced a narrow No verdict and a much louder demand that representation should amount to more than the existence of a ballot.
14 Opinions
If voting made a difference we the minnions would not be allowed to do it. There is a civil order that reigns supreme, parties in power is all pagentry. There are 5 issues we can all agree are wrong yet they carry on regardless of how much joe public moans. Its all smoke and mirrors while the real work carries om regardless. Covid showed us behind the veil
Ita a mild cartel. !! Wheeler dealing behind scenes. Snouts in the money trough. Career politics no idea of reality!.
NO simply because there wasn't an ISH option... FPTP is far from perfect as it allows politicians to ignore the electorate in to many constituencies The HoL is no longer fit for purpose it needs desolving & reforming so it does what it was meant to do Whilst the electorate continue to ignore the fact ALL parties are guilty of being undemocratic nowt will change Look at how partisan people are in this thread, blaming other parties whilst ignoring the their owns faults!
Prima facie Yes, but much has happened to void this. Most MPs are Party hacks chosen for loyalty not brain power & integrity. MPs should be proper representatives of the people not ciphers to be shuffled around a board. Many of the issues facing the UK would not have happened if our MPs were independent of Parties. PR will wipe out any remaining vestiges of democracy like the EU. We have neglected & trashed our inheritance
Voter apathy plays a part, but when you can gain such a large majority with such a low share of the electorate voting for you, we have a pale semblance of democracy. Made worse by the fact so many manifesto pledges turn to dust once in power, & things not voted for are added. Too many career politicians who have never had a real job or very limited experience. Civil service and NGOs holding too much sway. Too many politically disenfranchised now. And it's a downward spiral
Its pretty democratic. Its hard to engage people, especially in local democracy which means too many grifters and hobby horse riders on councils- maybe we should make it compulsory to vote. the lords is weirdly effective given its undemocratic origin, but now most of them are appointed by politicians it could be argued that there is a democratic element. I would like to see more proportional representation, compulsory voting & controls on lobbying, CoFs & second jobs for MP
FPTP is designed for decisive politicians. Sadly we stopped having them 50 years ago. They'd be even more foot dragging under PR. And voters stopped voting and wouldn't start again under PR. And the monarch has been irrelevant for a hundred years. And we will always need a second chamber. It's the people, not the system , that's at fault. It's us and who we appoint.
During the Blair/Brown period more and more NGOs were introduced. These now control more areas and have limited parliamentary control over them. So much for democracy
Democracy I'm UK is an illusion . Of we has democracy we wouldn't be over run with illegal fighting age men, because we the people would have a say and the majority would gain. When was the last time a gov did what the ppl needed? .. I'll wait 🤷🏼♀️
No system, which can ignore will of majority in many aspects and for very long time without any responsibility, can be called democratic. It may pretend to be one, with voting, various institution and procedures, but it is missing the main point. Mass immigration, illegal immigration, Brexit, Channel crossings, C19 response - the most obvious examples of "democracy" failing electorate.