Follow Churchill’s advice in the 5 May referendum
On 5 May, in the name of a spurious pursuit of fairness, the nation will be asked to abolish the ancient system of first past the post by which we have for centuries chosen our parliamentarians. ‘It’s unfair!’ is the whine of the aggrieved infant down the ages, to which adults rightly reply that life is often unfair, and success goes to those who can adapt themselves to that fact. I hope the British people will tell Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg precisely that next month.
First past the post selects the candidate constituents want the most, rather than the one they don’t want the least. Candidates who say what they believe, attempting to appeal to more voters than their rivals, will inevitably make far better parliamentarians than those who obfuscate their message to pick up second- and third-preference votes.
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