Democratic legitimacy in the Westminster system
This is a question about how effectively the public can endanger an MP's job at a General Election.
The Westminster system enables the public to campaign for or against any MP-candidate in any constituency.
So, for example you might live in a safe seat. But you can choose to campaign in marginal constituencies to bring the force of democracy for or against the Executive.
But in practise, how effective is this?
For example: recently someone mentioned to me how disliked Jeremy Hunt was when he was as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. And yet he still won his constituency seat in the 2017 General Election. Given the widespread dislike of Jeremy Hunt, I might have expected people from all over the country to visit his constituency in South West Surrey to campaign against him and prevent his re-election. Was there such a campaign, and if so, why was it not successful?
And if there wasn't such a campaign, why?
united-kingdom democracy
asked 5 hours ago
BenBen
2,5121131
add a comment |
This is a question about how effectively the public can endanger an MP's job at a General Election.
The Westminster system enables the public to campaign for or against any MP-candidate in any constituency.
So, for example you might live in a safe seat. But you can choose to campaign in marginal constituencies to bring the force of democracy for or against the Executive.
But in practise, how effective is this?
For example: recently someone mentioned to me how disliked Jeremy Hunt was when he was as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. And yet he still won his constituency seat in the 2017 General Election. Given the widespread dislike of Jeremy Hunt, I might have expected people from all over the country to visit his constituency in South West Surrey to campaign against him and prevent his re-election. Was there such a campaign, and if so, why was it not successful?
And if there wasn't such a campaign, why?
united-kingdom democracy
asked 5 hours ago
BenBen
2,5121131
Lots of people turning up from outside the constituency to tell you how to vote? That sounds like a recipe for an increased vote-share for the person being targeted
– Valorum
4 mins ago
add a comment |
This is a question about how effectively the public can endanger an MP's job at a General Election.
The Westminster system enables the public to campaign for or against any MP-candidate in any constituency.
So, for example you might live in a safe seat. But you can choose to campaign in marginal constituencies to bring the force of democracy for or against the Executive.
But in practise, how effective is this?
For example: recently someone mentioned to me how disliked Jeremy Hunt was when he was as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. And yet he still won his constituency seat in the 2017 General Election. Given the widespread dislike of Jeremy Hunt, I might have expected people from all over the country to visit his constituency in South West Surrey to campaign against him and prevent his re-election. Was there such a campaign, and if so, why was it not successful?
And if there wasn't such a campaign, why?
united-kingdom democracy
asked 5 hours ago
BenBen
2,5121131
This is a question about how effectively the public can endanger an MP's job at a General Election.
The Westminster system enables the public to campaign for or against any MP-candidate in any constituency.
So, for example you might live in a safe seat. But you can choose to campaign in marginal constituencies to bring the force of democracy for or against the Executive.
But in practise, how effective is this?
For example: recently someone mentioned to me how disliked Jeremy Hunt was when he was as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. And yet he still won his constituency seat in the 2017 General Election. Given the widespread dislike of Jeremy Hunt, I might have expected people from all over the country to visit his constituency in South West Surrey to campaign against him and prevent his re-election. Was there such a campaign, and if so, why was it not successful?
And if there wasn't such a campaign, why?
united-kingdom democracy
united-kingdom democracy
asked 5 hours ago
BenBen
2,5121131
asked 5 hours ago
BenBen
2,5121131
edited 4 hours ago
Ben
asked 5 hours ago
BenBen
2,5121131
asked 5 hours ago
BenBen
2,5121131
asked 5 hours ago
BenBen
2,5121131
2,5121131
Lots of people turning up from outside the constituency to tell you how to vote? That sounds like a recipe for an increased vote-share for the person being targeted
– Valorum
4 mins ago
add a comment |
Lots of people turning up from outside the constituency to tell you how to vote? That sounds like a recipe for an increased vote-share for the person being targeted
– Valorum
4 mins ago
Lots of people turning up from outside the constituency to tell you how to vote? That sounds like a recipe for an increased vote-share for the person being targeted
– Valorum
4 mins ago
Lots of people turning up from outside the constituency to tell you how to vote? That sounds like a recipe for an increased vote-share for the person being targeted
– Valorum
4 mins ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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The electoral result isn't in a linear relationship to the amount of campaigning. South West Surrey seems to be a fairly safe Conservative seat, campaigning by the Labour party might actually harden attitudes amongst Conservative voters and also may move Lib Dems floating voters to the right
Most constituencies are safely held by one party or another and don't change, it's the marginals that decide the result. Here is an interesting article on the 110 seats of the 650 where the incumbent had a lead of less than ten percent in 2017. These are where most campaigning is concentrated, but campaigning alone won't decide the result. You have to factor in local attitudes to the candidates, the general mood of the country, media reports on the parties etc. etc.
answered 2 hours ago
Dave GremlinDave Gremlin
1563
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Dave Gremlin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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So you're saying that scarce campaigning resources are targeted at marginals, accepting that doing so might leave unpopular figures relatively unscathed in the pursuit of a wider political goal.
– Ben
56 mins ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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votes
The electoral result isn't in a linear relationship to the amount of campaigning. South West Surrey seems to be a fairly safe Conservative seat, campaigning by the Labour party might actually harden attitudes amongst Conservative voters and also may move Lib Dems floating voters to the right
Most constituencies are safely held by one party or another and don't change, it's the marginals that decide the result. Here is an interesting article on the 110 seats of the 650 where the incumbent had a lead of less than ten percent in 2017. These are where most campaigning is concentrated, but campaigning alone won't decide the result. You have to factor in local attitudes to the candidates, the general mood of the country, media reports on the parties etc. etc.
answered 2 hours ago
Dave GremlinDave Gremlin
1563
New contributor
Dave Gremlin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
So you're saying that scarce campaigning resources are targeted at marginals, accepting that doing so might leave unpopular figures relatively unscathed in the pursuit of a wider political goal.
– Ben
56 mins ago
add a comment |
The electoral result isn't in a linear relationship to the amount of campaigning. South West Surrey seems to be a fairly safe Conservative seat, campaigning by the Labour party might actually harden attitudes amongst Conservative voters and also may move Lib Dems floating voters to the right
Most constituencies are safely held by one party or another and don't change, it's the marginals that decide the result. Here is an interesting article on the 110 seats of the 650 where the incumbent had a lead of less than ten percent in 2017. These are where most campaigning is concentrated, but campaigning alone won't decide the result. You have to factor in local attitudes to the candidates, the general mood of the country, media reports on the parties etc. etc.
answered 2 hours ago
Dave GremlinDave Gremlin
1563
New contributor
Dave Gremlin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
So you're saying that scarce campaigning resources are targeted at marginals, accepting that doing so might leave unpopular figures relatively unscathed in the pursuit of a wider political goal.
– Ben
56 mins ago
add a comment |
The electoral result isn't in a linear relationship to the amount of campaigning. South West Surrey seems to be a fairly safe Conservative seat, campaigning by the Labour party might actually harden attitudes amongst Conservative voters and also may move Lib Dems floating voters to the right
Most constituencies are safely held by one party or another and don't change, it's the marginals that decide the result. Here is an interesting article on the 110 seats of the 650 where the incumbent had a lead of less than ten percent in 2017. These are where most campaigning is concentrated, but campaigning alone won't decide the result. You have to factor in local attitudes to the candidates, the general mood of the country, media reports on the parties etc. etc.
answered 2 hours ago
Dave GremlinDave Gremlin
1563
New contributor
Dave Gremlin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
The electoral result isn't in a linear relationship to the amount of campaigning. South West Surrey seems to be a fairly safe Conservative seat, campaigning by the Labour party might actually harden attitudes amongst Conservative voters and also may move Lib Dems floating voters to the right
Most constituencies are safely held by one party or another and don't change, it's the marginals that decide the result. Here is an interesting article on the 110 seats of the 650 where the incumbent had a lead of less than ten percent in 2017. These are where most campaigning is concentrated, but campaigning alone won't decide the result. You have to factor in local attitudes to the candidates, the general mood of the country, media reports on the parties etc. etc.
answered 2 hours ago
Dave GremlinDave Gremlin
1563
New contributor
Dave Gremlin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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edited 2 hours ago
answered 2 hours ago
Dave GremlinDave Gremlin
1563
New contributor
Dave Gremlin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 hours ago
Dave GremlinDave Gremlin
1563
answered 2 hours ago
Dave GremlinDave Gremlin
1563
1563
New contributor
Dave Gremlin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Dave Gremlin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Dave Gremlin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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So you're saying that scarce campaigning resources are targeted at marginals, accepting that doing so might leave unpopular figures relatively unscathed in the pursuit of a wider political goal.
– Ben
56 mins ago
add a comment |
So you're saying that scarce campaigning resources are targeted at marginals, accepting that doing so might leave unpopular figures relatively unscathed in the pursuit of a wider political goal.
– Ben
56 mins ago
So you're saying that scarce campaigning resources are targeted at marginals, accepting that doing so might leave unpopular figures relatively unscathed in the pursuit of a wider political goal.
– Ben
56 mins ago
So you're saying that scarce campaigning resources are targeted at marginals, accepting that doing so might leave unpopular figures relatively unscathed in the pursuit of a wider political goal.
– Ben
56 mins ago
add a comment |
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Lots of people turning up from outside the constituency to tell you how to vote? That sounds like a recipe for an increased vote-share for the person being targeted
– Valorum
4 mins ago