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In my country (Uruguay) we have proportional representation by region - each region has a number of allotted representatives, and they are assigned with proport

In my country (Uruguay) we have proportional representation by region - each region has a number of allotted representatives, and they are assigned with proportional representation. So they have knowledge of issues in the (broad) area.

gaius 17y ago
OK, but how big is a "region"? My constituency is the town I live in. The point of the UK system is that a local level you are voting for the individual person you want to represent you. Sure they are usually a member of a party, but they don't necessarily have to have a history of toeing the party line. This does create some dilemmas (e.g. if you like your local Labour candidate but hate Gordon Brown, which seems to be a common theme). But on the whole, the local link is important. The candidate from any local area is likely to be just like the citizens who live there. That's how to get true representation.
- DanHulton 17y ago
  Except if you voted for anyone else but the guy who got in. So what if I have a Conservative local candidate, if I voted LibDem? I'm represented by nobody. We have this same problem in Canada, and it frustrates me to no end. (Our Greens represent 10% of the country and have 0 seats. That's 3 million Canadians with NO representation at all.)
  - wlievens 17y ago
    Ultimate solution: use both systems. Elect half the chamber directly, and half proportionally. Problem solved.
  - gaius 17y ago
    No, you are still represented by your MP! That is the beauty of it. But don't take my word for it: show up to a surgery, tell him or her you voted LibDem and ask them :-) An MP is a delegate from a constituency - and their legitimacy is only that they represent their constituents.
    - jodrellblank 17y ago
      I can't make much sense of that - in what sense are they representing me if they side with their party, or on the other hand why are they a member of a party if they don't side with it, but instead take a view which includes that of the constituents who voted against them? If whoever is elected represents you, why aren't they all classed as 'independent'?
      - gaius 17y ago
        In the sense that you can show up to their surgery and say, I think X about Y and you should do Z. They don't have to do it, of course, but you've as much right to speak to them regardless of whether you voted for them.

gaius 17y ago

OK, but how big is a "region"? My constituency is the town I live in. The point of the UK system is that a local level you are voting for the individual person you want to represent you. Sure they are usually a member of a party, but they don't necessarily have to have a history of toeing the party line. This does create some dilemmas (e.g. if you like your local Labour candidate but hate Gordon Brown, which seems to be a common theme). But on the whole, the local link is important. The candidate from any local area is likely to be just like the citizens who live there. That's how to get true representation.

DanHulton 17y ago
Except if you voted for anyone else but the guy who got in. So what if I have a Conservative local candidate, if I voted LibDem? I'm represented by nobody. We have this same problem in Canada, and it frustrates me to no end. (Our Greens represent 10% of the country and have 0 seats. That's 3 million Canadians with NO representation at all.)
- wlievens 17y ago
  Ultimate solution: use both systems. Elect half the chamber directly, and half proportionally. Problem solved.
- gaius 17y ago
  No, you are still represented by your MP! That is the beauty of it. But don't take my word for it: show up to a surgery, tell him or her you voted LibDem and ask them :-) An MP is a delegate from a constituency - and their legitimacy is only that they represent their constituents.
  - jodrellblank 17y ago
    I can't make much sense of that - in what sense are they representing me if they side with their party, or on the other hand why are they a member of a party if they don't side with it, but instead take a view which includes that of the constituents who voted against them? If whoever is elected represents you, why aren't they all classed as 'independent'?
    - gaius 17y ago
      In the sense that you can show up to their surgery and say, I think X about Y and you should do Z. They don't have to do it, of course, but you've as much right to speak to them regardless of whether you voted for them.