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I do believe that that is too many elections on one ballot paper. The vote on AV is such an important issue that it should be a single issue.

Too many, this issue of no consequence, however, when " the genie is out the bottle", who knows where it will end. The thought, God forbid, that parties like the Greens, getting a foothold, is too terrible to think about. @WillSlater67

If the people want yet another layer of money wasters like London has, then those in Leicester should vote for a mayor. If they don't want a massive council tax rise (like London), they should not vote for a mayor.

We've got a few ballot papers to fill in when we go to the polls here in Wales, including FPTP, PR, and the AV ferendum.
Alphabet soup fatigue is about to set in.
PS. Next Wednesday's Daily Politics AV debate should be a blast.

THE SET OF ALL SETS

Why not one more paper: A test paper for 'Certificate of Voting Competence'?

1) Where does the primary allegience of your MP lie?
2) Who restricts your choice of MP before you get to vote?
3) What effect does the whipping system have on the power of your vote?
4) Does your MP obey party, or constituency, when aims diverge?
5) In election literature, can political parties break the law with impunity?
6) Is universal suffrage a gift to devious politicians?
7) Can you explain AV to a barely literate ethnik?
8) Do you believe what politicians say?
9) Would you encourage your child to become a party politician?
10) how many fingers are you holding up?

PASS-MARK IN THE AGE OF FAIRNESS GOING FORWARD (TO OBLIVION)

Re #4 above. Why - ZERO of course!

Discrimination is unacceptable.

Does our current democracy work? In a nation being governed by a right wing administration put in power by a centre-left liberal vote, anything is better than the current system. The reason for trouble on the streets is the government being totally out of step with the people. Can a government continue to rule in these circumstances, probably not....trafalgar square occupation a la Tahrir is an inevitability and would have happened already if not for the strangely political-looking actions of the police.

The only difference between us and egypt is out police are better at crowd control.

If you make it complicated enough, people will stay away in numbers. Deliberate strategy do you think or just me being my usual cynical self?

#6 - Iain May

Yes but Egypt is moving towards democracy, not away from it. On crowd control, I guess the UK police did all right considering they don't have tanks and automatic weapons but it is only a matter of time.

THE PHENOMENON OF THE SUPER-HEATED LIQUID (#6)

I seem to recall someone in the political arena using the analogy of a super-heated liquid (that converts to vapour explosively) to illustrate some current situation.
With punters buying less, putting other punters (and themselves) out of work, in a tightening spiral, I feel we are probably just passing our boiling point and heading into super-heat.

But take heart, we are, no doubt, already discussing state of the art 'defence weapons' with the next Libyan regime - oops - government. One of our industries will boom. We might even interest them in sparkly ammo to fire into the air.

In passing, isn't this a UN war? Obo, Dave, Wilma and Spud should not be haranguing Gazza. That is the prerogative of The Moonies!

BUT WILL WE KILL OUR OWN PEOPLE - OR HIRE-IN AS WITH OTHER JOBS? (#8)

Does the Cricket Test translate to riots?

"Nick Clegg is campaigning in Leicester "

Thats a real kick in the chanks for those hard-working, decent Leicester LibDems.

WHO WILL TELL NICK WHAT HE DID? ON A 'NEED TO KNOW' BASIS, HE IS NEEDY.

I was relying on his Mrs. . .

we get to vote more, yet less changes. Modern Britain in a nutshell.

#1 rtry telling Clegg that. There were countless debates in the Commons and Lords about combining polls yet the Government persisted with its insistance that the polls be combined.

Also there won't be one single ballot papers - there will be a seperate one for each election.

is Clegg the most odius politician....ever?

THE ODOUR OF HYPOCRISY (#15)

The parties of Westminster are power structures - they like weak MPs.

Tony was most unlucky - he got 'what he wished for' and it has destroyed him.

Clegg's bad luck is twofold: he got close enough to apparent power to be manipulated by 'two faces' Dave (I am referring to the photoshopped poster Blogdog) but he will probably break before Blair-rot gets him.

It is all down to the Westminster Ethos.

SPOILPARTYGAMES

SPEAKING OF PROXY-MONARCH DAVE

Is it me, of is his nastiness increasing at PMQs? I can't decide if he is cracking under pressure, getting complacent in his arrogance, or simply has no idea what nastiness is - often a toff failing.

#17 - yes I agree and its not just the PM. All minsters have become even more nasty and making snide comments not only at questions but also when having to answer private notice questions and statements.

It is even rearing its ugly head in the Lords which is usually a lot more polite than the Commons.

And they wonder why some people get turned off politics

it is not a pretty sight...a toff on the ropes....they always call for nursie and scoff the poor kids sweets....