The 2010 UK General Election

I have still not decided whether to vote in the 2010 election or not. There are three parties which I seriously consider as fit to govern. Having read the manifestos of the three major parties, I conclude that there is really not much difference in policy.



I believe that the nation will benefit from constitutional change. A proportional representation system seems a much fairer way of electing members to a Parliament which represents the views of all of the British people. I also believe that we should have a fully elected House of Lords or a Senate which would have full powers to review all legislation including the budget. This House of Lords would also approve cabinet appointments and organise committees to question government policy. The House of Lords would also be elected on the principle of proportional representation.



If the parties are not able to agree to a proportional representation election system, I would agree to a system where third and fourth place candidates etc. would drop out of the election and there would be a fresh count to select one of the two remaining candidates. This system is used for the presidential elections in France.



It is blatantly unfair that a party which comes third in the popular vote could achieve the most number of seats, if not a majority. How could that government claim the authority to rule?



The political system in the UK allows a Prime Minister to become the Head of Government and Head of State in one. If no one party achieves a majority the Queen cannot exercise real power to appoint a Prime Minister either on the basis of most votes or most seats. The existing Prime Minister is conventionally given the right, first choice, to form a government even a minority one. Only, as a last resort is the Queen allowed to appoint a Prime Minister, from a minority party, to avoid a constitutional crisis.



Our Head of State is virtually powerless in all matters of the constitution and government as most of his or her powers are delegated to the Prime Minister. In a democracy, of course, an unelected Head of State cannot be allowed to interfere in the affairs of an elected government; this is why we need an all elected House of Lords to review the government's actions and to achieve checks and balances. Our country would then effectively become a full democracy and a "respublica" in the true meaning of the word. There is nothing to stop us retaining the monarch as Head of State for ceremonial and official occasions. The Queen or King could be advised by the House of Lords as to the possible course of action when there is a hung parliament or an abuse of power by the government. The House of Lords would also be able to approve the appointment of ministers on behalf of the monarch.

The House of Lords would also approve changes to the constitution. It would then allow Britain to become a truly secular state; as it could swear in (or remove) the monarch rather than the Church of England. The monarch would then be allowed to marry a Roman Catholic or the member of another religion; if that is what the British public really want. The monarch would still give royal assent to legislation and represent Britain overseas and would head up the Commonwealth.



The general election campaign has been conducted as if it was an election for a President. The "Prime Minister" debates have been organised as if the general public were electing the Prime Minister, rather than the political parties deciding who will be their leader and subsequently the Prime Minister. In a parliamentary democracy, such as Britain, the political parties decide their leader and this is difficult to change. If the Prime Minister were to be directly elected we would need substantial constitutional change. What would happen if a Prime Minister were elected but his political opponents were in the majority in parliament?



I believe we will only achieve constitutional change if there is a hung parliament, one of the minority parties will then be able to force a change. If I do vote, this will influence my decision.