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Labour: MMP still young

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Fri, 03 Sep 2010 6:17a.m.

MMP has a slim lead in polls over other forms of election

MMP has a slim lead in polls over other forms of election

Labour is concerned people haven't had enough time under MMP to decide whether they should keep it.

A referendum on the voting system was one of National's promises heading into the last election, and MP Simon Power believes New Zealanders deserve the opportunity to say whether it is working for them.

Labour MP Charles Chauvel says it's only been in place for 18 years and that's not enough.

A referendum asking people whether they are happy to MMP or want a change will be held at the general election next year.

Labour has reason to fear for the end of proportional representation – in both the 1978 and 1981 elections they received more votes than National, but due to the FPP system, National got to form the Government. These kinds of rsults are what led to MMP being adopted.

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Comments

03 Sep 2010 02:35p.m.

Shane wrote:

@Ernst: Sue Bradford was a brilliant MP and everyone in parliament acknowledged her - she did not come across well on TV is all. She fought for the powerless and marginalized - how many MPs can you point to who do that? MMp is much fairer - it may need to be tweaked a bit. FPP is the system that delivers minority governments that then act like dictators for 3 years. MMP stops the two big parties from doing really crazy things - it allows other voices to be heard in parliament and has led to a lot of good legislation.

03 Sep 2010 02:00p.m.

Kelly wrote:

If the MMP threshold is raised to 10% will that stop the tail wagging dog or a 10% treshold to high and more a return to FFP?

03 Sep 2010 01:08p.m.

Mungu wrote:

Are preferentail lists really glorified like in Australia?

03 Sep 2010 01:05p.m.

Bro wrote:

Why not have a WIN/WIN for FFP a REvised MMP BY COMBINING THEM?

03 Sep 2010 12:30p.m.

Kiwi wrote:

@Hey I don't know who you think your trying to kid, but it certainly is not Myth. We were given the option of trying a new system all those years ago, under the provision that we would have a second vote to confirm our choice or try a different system. We voted for MMP and things have worked reasonably well, but we have always been refused the second vote till now.

03 Sep 2010 12:19p.m.

No MMP thanks wrote:

MMP allows minority rule, which is no good for democracy and no good for strong Governments. FPP has it's flaws, but at least it kept most of the idiot parties out of power.

03 Sep 2010 10:14a.m.

Ernst wrote:

The problem I have with MMP is the low standard of list MP's we get bundled into minor parties and the amount of say they get. e.g Sue Bradford. Get elected in an electorate or nothing. Rodney Hide, Peter Dunne and Jim Anderton can do it.

03 Sep 2010 08:41a.m.

Hey wrote:

@Kiwi It's a myth there was supposed to be another vote on MMP. Secondly, it's FPP that no one in their right mind wants. MMP is great, it could be better though.

03 Sep 2010 07:49a.m.

Kiwi wrote:

I honestly don't know why Labour is so spooked by MMP. The majority of NZ'ers seem quite happy with it, albeit 'tweeked' to improve it. We didn't vote for MMP in the first place, we voted to trial it with a second vote expected to confirm it or trial a different system. Thankfully the government is finally giving us that chance, its time Labour stopped being so arrogant and started treating voters with respect instead of this 'you aren't smart enough' attitude.

03 Sep 2010 06:46a.m.

Alex wrote:

There's no way I would ever want NZ to go back to FPP, after the results of previous FPP elections and more recently the British general election.