User:RodCrosby/QPR2: Difference between revisions
m
→The Speaker: former
m (→Single-member seats abolished: single-member) |
m (→The Speaker: former) |
||
Line 297:
The case of the Speaker presents a possible difficulty. Representing a two-member seat, if the Speaker, under his former party colours, was one of a pair from the same party, that party could hardly stand down in his favour (as happens under FPTP), losing both an MP and crucial national votes, although standing would risk the Speaker's defeat. A similar self-interested view would undoubtedly be taken by the other parties. Under single-member FPTP in the UK, Opposition parties frequently stand against the Speaker, invariably to no effect. There are several possible solutions.
* adopt the Irish solution, where the ''Ceann Comhairle'' is automatically deemed re-elected as a member of the House, reducing the number of electorally-contested seats in his/her multi-member constituency by one. Under PR squared, this would result in a single-member contest between the parties in the Speaker's former constituency.
* simply deem the Speaker an ''ex officio'' or co-opted Member of the House, without any need to continue to represent a constituency, thereby restoring the former constituency to normal electoral competition. The current Westminster convention seems a bit farcical, considering the last Speaker to be defeated in his constituency was Richard Onslow in 1710, and it's difficult to see how a Speaker can vigorously pursue or defend the interests of their constituents while remaining, as s/he must, completely neutral towards the government of the day.
| |||