Devin Mitchell@DevinMitchell

So I'm breaking my "no more UK election tweets" promise to make a few observations about proportional representation (a mild obsession).

Mon, May 11 2015 23:05:16

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https://twitter.com/DevinMitchell/status/597900308950323200

— Devin Mitchell (@DevinMitchell)Mon, May 11 2015 23:05:16

Devin Mitchell@DevinMitchell

Obvious PR winners would be @UKIP, @TheGreenParty, and @LibDems, losers: @theSNP, and @Conservatives.

Mon, May 11 2015 23:16:18

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— Devin Mitchell (@DevinMitchell)Mon, May 11 2015 23:16:18

Devin Mitchell@DevinMitchell

.@UKLabour would technically lose seats (232 to 198), but I'd argue they would be in a better position...

Mon, May 11 2015 23:19:07

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— Devin Mitchell (@DevinMitchell)Mon, May 11 2015 23:19:07

Devin Mitchell@DevinMitchell

1) They'd go from 100 behind Tories to 40 behind 2) No Tory majority 3) From 1 to 14 seats in Scotland

Mon, May 11 2015 23:21:46

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— Devin Mitchell (@DevinMitchell)Mon, May 11 2015 23:21:46

Devin Mitchell@DevinMitchell

But I have to imagine LAB would be able to use CON having to rely on UKIP votes against them the same way CON did same to LAB w/r/t SNP.

Mon, May 11 2015 23:28:22

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— Devin Mitchell (@DevinMitchell)Mon, May 11 2015 23:28:22

Devin Mitchell@DevinMitchell

"Do you really want Nigel Farage to be Deputy Prime Minister?" etc

Mon, May 11 2015 23:29:42

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— Devin Mitchell (@DevinMitchell)Mon, May 11 2015 23:29:42

Devin Mitchell@DevinMitchell

This is of course an imperfect analysis, because electoral reform would change who people vote for.

Mon, May 11 2015 23:33:57

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— Devin Mitchell (@DevinMitchell)Mon, May 11 2015 23:33:57

Devin Mitchell@DevinMitchell

From Labour's perspective, none of this changes fact that first priorities have to be making up deficits on economy and leadership.

Mon, May 11 2015 23:36:49

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— Devin Mitchell (@DevinMitchell)Mon, May 11 2015 23:36:49

Devin Mitchell@DevinMitchell

But embracing PR, in addition to being better for democracy on merits, would be in their self-interest.

Mon, May 11 2015 23:38:12

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— Devin Mitchell (@DevinMitchell)Mon, May 11 2015 23:38:12

Devin Mitchell@DevinMitchell

In the same way it would significantly benefit @TheDemocrats in the U.S., which I wrote about last fall:  http://bit.ly/1K35McI .

Mon, May 11 2015 23:40:04

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https://twitter.com/DevinMitchell/status/597909066870992896

— Devin Mitchell (@DevinMitchell)Mon, May 11 2015 23:40:04

Devin Mitchell@DevinMitchell

By the way, there are parallels between the "boundary changes" the Tories are proposing and GOP gerrymandering:  http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-19166125 ….

Mon, May 11 2015 23:43:44

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https://twitter.com/DevinMitchell/status/597909989223567360

— Devin Mitchell (@DevinMitchell)Mon, May 11 2015 23:43:44