I still think that there is good sense in this amendment. If after due deliberation it is felt that the system is defective and another one is brought in, it needs to have a reasonable time to bed down. If it is possible after two or four years to say, ““This is not working, change it. You are operating a poor system, we will change it””, that could be good, but it could also lead to Tammany Hall politics.
If a party, or an individual with power, decides that a change in the electoral system is beneficial politically and takes advantage of that because it is cannot be stopped, that is not good for democracy. Two elections in eight years is a sensible period, during which the cycle can work or not—it stumbles along after the first four years and is found to be dissatisfactory after the second. There is some sense in this amendment.
Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill
Proceeding contribution from
Lord Graham of Edmonton
(Labour)
in the House of Lords on Thursday, 5 July 2007.
It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL)
and
Debate on bills on Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill.
About this proceeding contribution
Reference
693 c1210-1 Session
2006-07Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamberSubjects
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