M.I.5¾ wrote:
> "Gaz" wrote in message
> news:64s4k1F2cifpcU1@mid.individual.net...
>> M.I.5¾ wrote:
>>> "Andy" wrote in message
>>> news:cdba9186-7ca5-42af-b6d0-4720c4b9346e@s19g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>>>> Living in the UK, I'm somewhat envious of the "primaries" happening
>>>> in the US. I think this is a great idea, and it's thrown up plenty
>>>> of interesting debates.
>>>> How could we bring some of the benefits of this approach to the
>>>> parliamentary system used in the UK? I've had a little think about
>>>> this and come up with the idea of "standardised" leadership
>>>> elections. Firstly , the parties MPs would choose a candidate.
>>>> Secondly, the parties other elected officials, such as councillors,
>>>> assembly members and MEPs would get a choice, and lastly the "rank
>>>> and file" party activists. This would produce three able
>>>> candidates, of which the general public would have the chance to
>>>> vote on. An additional advantage of such an arrangement would be
>>>> the leadership hopefuls would have to pitch their case to voters
>>>> of other parties. Should the party concerned have no MPs, then
>>>> their leader could be appointed to parliament as a non-voting
>>>> member. Would the commons not benefit from a speaker for the
>>>> Greens or UKIP, who have no MPs but considerable public support.
>>>
>>> Those primaries (and all that goes with them) cost a small fortune
>>> to anyone who wishes to run in them. This ensures that only those
>>> with $$$ can afford to be elected in the US. It also ensures that
>>> the next presidential race starts almost as soon as the last one
>>> finishes. Here in Britian we have laws that prevent this situation
>>> because the money and time that can be spent on an election campaign
>>> is strictly limited. And a good job as well.
>>
>> They cost about £800 over here, that included advertising and the
>> rental of the hall.
>>
>
> The maximum amount that can be spent by a candidate in a general
> election is currently £7150 plus 7p per voter in a county
> constituency or £7150 plus 5p per voter in a borough constituency. (The
> Representation of the People (Variation of Limits of Candidates'
> Election Expenses) Order 2005)
But, that amount applies only to candidates, and only within a small window
from when the election is called. It does not include spending by the
parties on national campaigns, which can easily get into tens of millions.
Gaz
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