Labour isn’t interested in reform

[@charlescaudell9493]

Corbyn was such a shock to the establishment that the Labour Party had to be undermined and those holding to its principal values rooted out! Its purpose now is to act as pressure valve for extreme Conservative administrations which when eventually voted out the 'Labour Party' can hold office for a short period, the horrors of the past ignored and forgotten. Then in a few short years the Tories can be returned without any serious interruption to neo-liberal policies.

[@fredhayward1350]

yep, well put.

[@ryanseddon4800]

Thank you for your sanity, you did a public service announcement.

[@eddieharris6004]

Well said....think someone once said "Britain is a Conservative country that occaissionaly votes Labour". If ever there was an election that proved the 'charade' of democracy 2024 was it.

[@scottyfive4319]

Scotland is and always will be a more socialist country. Without the media control England would now be on it's own and struggling massively, the 2014 referendum was not and never was a free and rational referendum. England so scared to go it alone threw the kitchen sink at Scotland to keep it, lies, deceit and project fear all throw at the people of Scotland. It has continued on a daily basis with attacks on the SNP and Scotland in general, in my opinion and the evidence is overwhelming for this, England has become a scaredy cat, gutless country that continues to hold onto Scotland for dear life.

[@noramartin96]

@@eightiesmusic1984 Stop nit picking we all make typo errors but that does not distract from the content of the post

[@cobbler40]

Starmer is laying the foundations for a far right government.

[@iancraig6070]

Politicians arent interested in their own citizens full stop. Arguing needlessly among each other and achieving nothing to improve the quality of life for its citizens is disgraceful.

[@davidwhitehouse2162]

i don't think anyone could dispute what Mr Murphy says, British politics has degraded into the corrupt club that welcomes all those who see it as their personal benefit system. I equate it to those who choose a criminal career, except politicians have more protection from the law, and can do their worst and walk away with a round of applause from their own number. Some people of the country have given up and gone abroad, assuming the system will never change, but what is needed are fighters, not deserters, so it is to be hoped that there will be those that emerge to fight for us and effect the change that is desperately needed. The problem will always be the entrenched, enriched stalwarts of the system that will use whatever evil means they can to deny change and attack anyone who attempts it. With a complicit main media in this country, the arrogance continues, but voices like Richard's may help to remind us that change must be sought, no matter how long it takes.

[@grolfe3210]

"i don't think anyone could dispute what Mr Murphy says" I for one can! It is a very selective set of points that ignores many key issues,, events and facts. We have chosen out voting system and chosen our government. Those fighting are merely trying to bring down the whole system because their minority view does not prevail.

[@inguzwulf]

​@@grolfe3210 You're right, it is a selective set of points. But he is still correct. And as to the rest? Propaganda works. And most people alive in this country now have no idea that there could be another way due to the influence of people such as Milton Friedman (I'm thinking about his students and their influence on their students). Such is the incestuous character of the world's 'high flyers' and their progeny.

[@michaelel650]

@@grolfe3210 We constantly get governments that only attract a minority of voters. It is the majority of people whose vets do not count in the FPTP system. If you read 'The Sovereign Individual' by Rees-Mogg and Davidson they make their anti-democratic stance clear and state that the destruction of the Western Democracies will be by the rich because of their greed and self-interest. I.E. it will be the product of the neoliberal ideology. Slobodian provides further evidence in 'Crack-Up Capitalism', quoting members of the billionaire class such as Peter Thiel. It would seem, according to Rees-Mogg at least, that the neoliberal system will need tearing down if we are to preserve democracy. Or maybe you are opposed to democracy. All the best to you.

[@Incognito-jf1dr]

​"we" didn't choose our government. 66% of voters did NOT vote for this Government. It's not a minority view it's a majority view ​@@grolfe3210

[@Incognito-jf1dr]

​@@grolfe321066% of voters did NOT vote for this Government. It's not a minority view from Richard,. it's a majority opinion

[@firebyrd437]

There is so much buyers remorse now. It's much too late for that. I really do believe that many people are simply stunned by the hypocrisy of the freebies labour has received. Change was promised, yet another empty promise, because there is no change going to happen. The 2 party revolving door at Westminster needs nailed shut. If the system won't change, the voters need to. Independent candidates, the greens and socialists, could be the change we need, but I do realise just how difficult that would be. Voter apathy is the real problem when people are disappointed

[@dalstonjazz]

Not that many voted for Labour - a lot didn't buy them or vote at all.

[@graemeshort1928]

Great informative, punchee Thank you. So the satus quo continues.

[@BoredomIncarnate1]

Starmer promised change, but he's the literal embodiment of the status quo.

[@julianshepherd2038]

Starmer is the Continuity Boris.

[@themsmloveswar3985]

Exactly. You nailed it. Starmer is Boris Johnson with a comb, and only one wife.

[@JohnPark-xf2gq]

And not so many children.ls just me or does it seem that so many people now seem to be called johnson.

[@william_marshal]

A dog never bites the hand that feeds it !!!

[@themsmloveswar3985]

The media hold the power.

[@whycantiremainanonymous8091]

Labour isn't interested in reform. That's mutual. Reform isn't interested in labour either.

[@shillanassi]

What can you expect, when Starmer attends Murdoch’s convocations?

[@nektekket852]

Mate, there is no more Labour party. I'm a lifelong Labour voter, until the Cornyn debacle. Green for me. 💚

[@corvus1238]

I voted Green from being life long Labour. They are the closest thing to the post war Labour party now. I don't know how Greens are going to get their messaging out to the people but it has to happen quickly, before Reform gather up those pushed away from Labour. My biggest fear.

[@Redf322]

@@corvus1238me too I dont think they are great but my hands are clean.

[@netcurtains]

Don't they want islam in power?sharia?anti Israel also

[@netcurtains]

They support islamic terror,,the greens😢

[@netcurtains]

Yippee doo

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Thanks Richard much appreciated 🙏

[@witlesswonderthe2nd883]

Labour have thrown breadcrumbs at the grateful masses for decades, if they really wanted changes then they would’ve happened with laws and policies to make it all happen. All the breadcrumbs they introduced come with strings attached such as working tax credits, pension credits with strict limits. Everything is about how much control they can absorb over people having them need to apply for help which could be efficiently distributed distributed by just lifting the tax threshold so people keep more of their money before they pay tax so it will never happen. The whole system is stacked against the most vulnerable who are preyed upon instead of protected, it won’t change unless that change is forced because it suits politicians and their financial handlers. Only last year Starmer’s earnings were around 400k yet he paid less than 100k tax, until people look up instead of around them to how they are being conned by greedy charlatans

[@Incognito-jf1dr]

Collecting less tax isn't going to pay for pension credits or anything else for that matter

[@karlkerr7348]

This video totally confirms my opinion of this labour 💩 show.

[@bradtenbonga]

As always Richard , your analysis is lazer like and has wide scope to demonstrate its fault lines . As you identify our FPTP system is at its heart our absolute failure . But not sure about Tories are next , Reform will sweep the field . Thank you again Brian

[@stephenhardy312]

The Blair government brought in some constitutional reform.

[@lliambunter]

Absolutely spot on

[@patrickbarrett5650]

They maintained the Status Quo in opposition because they were comfortable there. They are frightened to death by the attention they have attracted.

[@Drewan-q5v]

This video totally confirms my opinion of Richard. He does not like the labour party. And he believes he is always right and important. He is surely aware not everyone is perfect and we all can have lapses of judgement.

[@roddychristodoulou9111]

I totally agree , the key for reform is PR and both main parties just don't want to know . Both Labour and Tory are now fully fledged establishment parties that don't want to rock the boat . A country with a choice of just two political parties is very undemocratic indeed .

[@shugieshugied2269]

Strange how this message was never heard during the Tory years.

[@triphopdrop5]

Continuation of managed decline I heard quoted somewhere in the past.

[@StudentDad-mc3pu]

Labour has become a morally hollow vessel with only one goal, and that is power for power's sake, it is not simply useless, it is dangerous.

[@stevenwilliamson6236]

There's a mechanism for constitutional reform for Northern Ireland. Have the vote and get it done.

[@karlkerr7348]

The few are calling the shots and policies to double down on the many being implemented without restraint.

[@brianwilliamson9077]

Agreed

[@paulwalker797]

I think it could be a lot worse than just waiting for the Tories to come back. The experience here in east Germany, alienation and indoctrination of many marginalised rural communities, the trad 'working class' and middle class discontents, leads me to fear a far more radical right could well ride a populist wave into power.

[@ryanseddon4800]

You are correct. We know that the rise of that much more extreme wing is well under way….. This fact is not given as much urgency and attention as the many distractions the public is given to focus on.

[@Redf322]

@@ryanseddon4800as Capitalism dies it becomes more authoritarian.

[@chrisrobinson860]

@@paulwalker797 Absolutely! I’m assuming that you are referring to Germany. However, Labour in the UK are leading us straight to the ultra right wing party calling themselves Reform. This would be a complete disaster and huge numbers of people are falling for it already.😡

[@stephenhardy312]

Sadly, yes.

[@alanhat5252]

All the time a majority of people point-blank _refuse_ to give their vote due consideration this is going to continue 😢

[@beammeup8458]

The situation is absurd ... how to resolve the absurdity ?? Politicians are all cut from the same cloth ...

[@davidmcculloch8490]

As Lord Hailsham once said, we suffer an elective dictatorship. The status quo is preserved by government being seen to do something; rarely the right thing; never enough. Tinkering at the edges when we need reform, to stop Reform getting in.

[@charliemoore2551]

Yes. But Hailsham thought that was a good thing. A very nasty piece of work. I remember him bemoaning the passing of the time when a man could see his children hungry and barefoot and still be proud to be British.

[@rogerbradley5213]

Once again, nail, head, hit

[@michaelrch]

The labour party is, in a word, Conservative

[@Dicky104]

We are doomed.

[@Incognito-jf1dr]

Richard. Great video. All the things that need reform? Absolutely. But not the priority, and Labour have only been in power for a matter of months. Having battles over the Lords, first past the post etc etc is not the things that the public are concerned about and I very much doubt the reason voters wanted a change of government. I've said before, the public will not vote Labour unless it turns itself into the Tory party. Our right wing press and the wealthy will never allow real socialism, and voters are too easily convinced that somehow it's a very bad thing, when in fact, it's not

[@jimshelley8831]

I could have told you they are not interested in reform, they owe their loyalty to the oligarch and donors not us.

[@patbyrneme007]

One key reform missing in this list is the need for much greater power MPs over their agenda, right to put forward motions and so on.

[@azami123]

This version of the Labour party is so right-wing they are virtual useless

[@louisirving588]

It won't be the Tories that come next. It'll be Reform.

[@johnfeaaccount3639]

we don't need more seats in the commons..we need less MP's....

[@MrGavinBoyd]

Power, control, freebies. 😡

[@theeventhorizon-valebridge9512]

As I often remind people, the UK is in paralysis and continuous decline, it's had its era.

[@AyoHues]

For anyone that wants to truly understand how utterly dysfunctional our political system is, I would recommend ‘Why We Get the Wrong Politicians’ by Isabel Hardman. Our whole system of government, policy, strategy & leadership is broken from top to bottom. It makes you realise that Britain is going nowhere any time soon. Generational decline is baked in. Our grandchildren will be even poorer than our children & the lucky ones will be economic migrants in countries that we snobbishly look down upon atm.

[@stevenwilliamson6236]

The UK had first past the post before Belarus.

[@mr.afrikaans1747]

Oh wow! This A-Level perspective is so edgy and revolutionary! All these nonsense ideas vs a tried and tested system. Europe’s a mess politically, far worse than the UK. What a load of b-locks.

[@davidparry5310]

A 'tried and tested system' that is screwing us over royally (no pun intended). That isn't to say that I think Murphy's favoured ideas would do that much to change things for the better, mind you. Also, say what you want about continental Europe - and things are undoubtedly far from being a bed of roses over there - at least there isn't country in continental Europe (apart from maybe Greece) where working-class people have had to endure anything like the protracted erosion of living standards that British workers have experienced.

[@mr.afrikaans1747]

@@davidparry5310stop kidding yourself.

[@davidparry5310]

@@mr.afrikaans1747 Great rebuttal, chump!

[@robert12011]

I agree. All I can see is BAU from labour. “Change”! What change are they talking about because I don’t see any. So disappointing

[@lheureexquise140]

Richard is right. It is even worse than he says. Labour will continue the Tory free ports policy which means there will be even less local/regional power. The last thing we need is more centralisation in one of the most centralised countries in the world but that is what we will get. The UK establishment meanwhile accrues ever more power and influence and continues to break and diminish the UK people.

[@amywood2514]

Scotland is a colonial possession of the greater England project.

[@peteraston4753]

Labour has been in power for close on 50 years since the 1960s so has had plenty of oppertunities for change

[@Incognito-jf1dr]

@@peteraston4753 it's nowhere near 50 years

[@alanrumble7238]

Spot on Richard. Labour won a large majority because they were not the Tories but even then only managed one -third of the votes. They talk about change but talk is cheap unless backed up by actions.

[@davidp4456]

We might disagree on certain political issues, but for the majority of the thinking electorate this cycle of corrupt and abusive power that favours select individuals has got to stop. It’s the biggest impediment to meaningful change and does nothing but drive the continual decline of the UK economy.

[@cobbler40]

Jam Tomorrow !

[@Simply1ism]

Thank you. Probably people don't like stability with a descent constitution etc. There'd be little threatre left!

[@vgstb]

Dear professor Murphy, could you do a video on the latest book of Angus Hanton?

[@severian1916]

Also the HoC doesn't have enough seats for all the elected Members need a new design and probably a new site. Manchester? Just a thought.

[@dgraham-l1c]

👍👍👍

[@ChrisBrown-w8j]

England would like independence from Westminster so we all have something in common. The House of Lords is a plaything to put your mates in. I am a centre right traditional conservative voter and I find myself in total agreement with what you are saying. Westminster needs to be changed to work for the people not the so called elite. The conservatives did not deserve to win the election, I did not leave the conservative party, it left me. The level of corruption in public office in the current government is beyond belief with no end in sight. When are the grownups going to take over our government?

[@eddieharris6004]

Great assesment today.....and no banging on about climate change....keep it up, may even subscribe.

[@Redf322]

Yes he must have just ignored majority of scientists in the world and decided to go with you.

[@56Model30]

I concur with almost all of what you say here except I don’t think it will be the Tories who replace them at the next election, it’s more likely to be Reform.

[@android65mar]

The House of Lords is where they reward all their chums.

[@shugieshugied2269]

This Murphy chap knows as much about politics as I do about accountancy practices, which sounds like a euphemism for tax fiddling to me.

[@inguzwulf]

👍

[@safirahmed]

The language used in votes in Parliament is deliberately confusing and opaque using multiple modifications where votes in favour of one position could easily mean the opposite position. Plain English in Parliamentary votes with all modification removed clearly stating whether the vote opposes or favours the vote/motion will make Parliamentary votes easier to understand. The system of Parliamentary Whips should be abolished with all Parliamentary votes being free votes where the MPs and Peers can vote based on their conscience or lack of conscience.

[@xtc2v]

Scotland and Wales can vote on English only issues.........that is absurd

[@richardgregory3684]

Indeed, and when David Cameron attempted to rectify that, the SNP instantly went into full victim mode and claimed it turned Scottish MP's into "second class". Nicola Sturgeon pledged her MP's would not vote on matters that only applied to England, and then instantly reneged the moment she saw a cynical opportunity to inflict a defeat on the Tories over fox hunting.

[@AndiWard]

1/3 of the UK didn't vote for a labour government, it was closer to 1/5 of voters or 1/7 of the population.

[@Redf322]

How many didn’t vote?

[@AndiWard]

@@Redf322 About 40% didn't vote.

[@Teapot69]

At least 90% of voters voted for more mass immigration into the UK, legal or illegal.

[@AndiWard]

@@Teapot69 No, they didn't.

[@Teapot69]

@@AndiWard They voted for parties that wanted to deliver more of the same, and that's what they got. . . . same thing!

[@kwakkers68]

Quite a difficult area for mere citizens to investigate (although they may have more luck working collaboratively). Some social media commentary alluded to some seats getting more postal votes in than a town had in population - but I can't say if there is concrete history to this? Obviously, the State, as it exists, isn't going to block corruption which it gains advantage from, - in sustaining Establishment power through ensuring its servants' electoral success .... So what can people do? Of course, not of this is easy ... But it might be possible to take registers of people's voting intentions - latterly comparing the numbers. If we take our (possible) suspicions to the nth degree, in normative voting method (ie non postal voting), the potential for skulduggery could lie in the movement of ballots between voting locations and 'counting houses'. e.g. print duplicate ballots, and prepare one lot before hand - with the 'x' in the preferred box.... BUT, I don't think the Establishment would adopt such measures commonly, but only where absolutely necessary - minimising risk to exposure; and also, of course, there is the ever useful compound of State Ed. which has bugger all useful content on Economics, and Politics itself, and the entities which make use of the vacuum this provides -- the mainstream media. A stretch too far? Given the back catalogue of high level corruption seen in Westminster, and the City, the number of illegal wars governments have overseen ... We would have to be very, very dim indeed to conclude that a bulk of politicians are ''too moral'' to contemplate such means!

[@kwakkers68]

The above is a follow on post, to a thread I started about the Private Sector 'administrating' Elections - which I presently can't see on this thread.

[@marijo1951]

I agree with every point, but I'm sorry you didn't mention the monarchy. I'm hoping to see a system much like the one that you envisage with a democratically elected figurehead president as head of state like the President of Ireland.

[@christinavuyk2026]

And when the pressure becomes too much the tories can blame Labour for it all. Corbyn may have been the wrong sort of Old Labour member but it doesn’t change the fact that that’s what the country is needing. Someone with traditional Labour values along the lines of John Smith or, dare I say it, Neil Kinnock would listen to what the people are saying (tax the rich) and act according to those wishes 😐

[@indricotherium4802]

The real politics in the UK is no longer left vs right, it's progressive vs conservative. And conservatism is winning at Westminster big time, Starmer the unapologetic Establishment-conservative through and through. A progressive spirit exists in the electorate but the huge forces of conservatism mobilise impressively to marginalise it and maintain the status quo. Labour is no longer even the putative torchbearer for progressivism it kept us for so long believing it might be.

[@chrisabraham8793]

Labour is as with the other parties influenced by global lobbyist like the WEF UN EU, as for the interest's of the people, more like the interest's of those in parliament pockets.

[@Redf322]

This WEF conspiracy stuff pigeon holes you and stops you being taken seriously. Other than that yes they are controlled by big corporate interests and lobby groups.

[@zetectic7968]

Conspiracy theorist alert. See you doctor & get some more medicine.

[@Michael00172]

I would add that this country simply does not require two chambers, namely, The Commons & House of Lords, to function in a frully democratic fashion. One chamber is all that is required, revision can be done through open publicly accountable, revolving committee's that would revise policies before being passed(or not) in the Commons. Those committee's would have members of the public, including so-called experts, others involved with long experience of specific issues, a few MP's of all parties included, a civil servant that can join all the dots & a legal expert opinion on issues arising from any changes. Another change is necessary, we should have half-term elections, such as in America,that would act as a bellweather to any government getting above itself. It would allow MP's to be overturned by local elections at mid-term,to be replaced by others if they, their party in power is as incompetent as the Tories, or as sociopathic & anti-British as Labour. No competent MP that acts primariliy in the interest of all their constituents that elected them, would have nothing to fear from being tested at the ballot box half way through a parliament. It would prove to be a beneficial change at Westminster, of that I am certain, weeding out MP's that prove to be not up to the job, or other ideological party headcases that serve no one but themselves. Lastly,the five year term should be reduced to four years if the half-term elections are not introduced, because of the damage that is done by a government in office, but not in power.

[@stephenhardy312]

The unicameral New zealand Parliament has some if these features.

[@CommonSwindler]

“The UK Constitution does not work well.”-so that’s why it’s the been cornerstone of Western democracy for the last three centuries and first actually workable of its kind? That’s why the settlement of 1689 has held and evolved over more than 309 years? Said no one, ever, who knows a jot about English constitutional history (and by the way it is “English” constitutional history and not British, one looks in vain for such a thing.) What a joke. Reform is required but “reform” enacted divorced from any real historical grounding leads to… well, where things are now after Blair’s transformative reforms. “We live in progressive country. The question is not whether one changes but whether it is done in accordance with one’s history.” -Benjamin Disraeli.

[@lat1419]

Classic seat warming Starmer

[@RogerHyam]

They are small c conservative. Kinda like one nation Tories really. It's amazing that so many in the right-on press have such cognitive dissonance they can't stop supporting them. Having committed before the election how can they stop now? Even in the face of the evidence.

[@Redf322]

We don’t have a free press.

[@jasbindersingh2441]

Some of those Lords speak a lot of sense. Hands off. Your old mates at the bank of england tho....their a different story. 13 yrs of 0.5 per cent interest rates ? 13 yrs of financial repression Who elected those bassstrds ?

[@Redf322]

Elected people can talk even more sense. Also we dont have to doff our caps to them or take part in their phony pagentry.

[@grolfe3210]

Richard seems to be making a huge assumption that Labour stood for a whole raft of reforms that (as far as I am aware) did not come up at all in the election and were not proposed by Labour. Threre is at that start an assumption that what we have "does not work well", and then examples are given- House of Lords- yes it is unelected but everyone was happy when they were throwing out the Rwanda bill! Can anyone recall when the Lords threw out a good bill or just nodded through a bad one? I can't. Given the whip system we need a body to oversee the elected chamber. There is no great call for reform. "absurd" as it is people are happy with it and it oddly works well. Then FPTP, and the first bout of amnesia for Richard. We had a vote on electoral reform and by a very wide margin people chose to keep FPTP. So the system has widespread support. The alternative always leads to undemocratic secret horse trading between parties and the likes of Nigel Farage holding the balance of power. The public rejected Boris by his actions. He stood down. MPs stand every election and need votes. That is the code. The Tories were just thrown out of office for seeming to be not worthy of running the show. That code seems to work and the public has the power. The MPs have to declare gifts. The public can see the gifts. Fair point about having to attend to vote but that does not mean the present system is bad, just inefficient. The system with late night votes is archaic. Next bout of amnesia is the vote or Scottish independence. We had one! If a party backing independence is elected to councils and parliament then that would indicate a level of opinion. We do not currently have such calling from any part of the UK. We have had huge reform and devolution in recent years which was also forgotten in the video. The powers given to local authorities or to central government are not really constitutional. We just draw the line at a point and the relevent level deals with it. There has been huge reform in local government to give many cities more power and to run as a unitary authority. Again not mentioned. The other huge point missed is the Monarchy! Again it may be a crazy idea but the public like it, and it works as it is. So we have the main parties happy with what we have, and the vast majority of the public happy with what we have but still you see it as failing and bad. Labour are doing nothing because there is no call for them to do anything. There are many other far more important things for the government to spend its time on.

[@alastairdonaldson-jj9vh]

You make so much sense. Hope the PM will turn to you for some sound advice. Best wishes. Al

[@stepheng9607]

From a historical perspective you have to question whether the Labour party has ever been a political force that has come up with new ideas and then implemented them. You could argue that the starting of the welfare state began with the Liberal governments at the beginning of the 20th century with national insurance. Equally the Liberals introduced the Parliament Act 1911, which was the first attempt to limit the power of the House of Lords. Labour did talk about electoral reform before it got into power in the 1920s, but then went cool on the idea. The post second world war Labour government is often held as an example of a reforming government. However you could argue that it was building on the structure already in place as part of a war economy . A lot of the fundamental thinking about post-war was of course from a Liberal Lord Beveridge , even though the Labour did not implement things in the way he intended. Ideas about education reform came from the Conservatives setting up the grammar schools. The only 'labour idea' was the NHS. In the 1960s, the Labour governments maintained the approach of the conservatives and notable original ideas were the Open University and the Ombudsman system - hardly big thinking. The radical rethink of the 1970s came from a conservative Keith Joseph and the Tony Blair/Gordon Brown governments largely accepted his premise of small government. So I would query whether Labour really has every had a tradition of 'big original thinking' let alone implementing those things when in government.

[@shugieshugied2269]

Labour did not put constitutional reform into its manifesto, it's not an issue that concerns many voters, or at least is not a priority for them, sorting out the economy and the NHS, as well as the brexit mess, are all significantly more important. It would be fair to criticise Labour had they promised reform but not delivered it. But that's not what is happening, we might see some long overdue changes to the House of Lords, and possibly some discussion of PR in the next year or two.

[@PD-fc3og]

So they cannot do more than one change/policy at a time? Is that your argument? I would think fixing the voting system, and updating the Constitution to 21st Century standards would be a priority, especially for a Labour Government that may well lose the next election, and their current majority to make these changes goes for another generation. Do it once, do it now properly, and for future electoral fairness.

[@shugieshugied2269]

@@PD-fc3og They can do more than one thing at once, but significant constitutional changes would either need to be in a manifesto, or possibly presented in a referendum. We did have a referendum on changing the voting system in 2011, the turnout at 42$ was low, the result reasonably conclusive at over 2/3rds saying no.

[@PD-fc3og]

@@shugieshugied2269 In a manifesto? Just another random roadblock, an obstacle to change for the better used by those too afraid to try anything, dare I say it rather Conservative in thinking. You are in Power to make changes for the betterment of ALL peoples lives. Why bother to become a "leader" or a "Minister" in the first place, unless it is just to stroke your own ego? Once in Power, you use it, wield it, to do things, just as the Tories always do. If it means a referendum, do it, but do it properly with full Government and Public Service support to get it passed by the people. Otherwise this cycle of 3 terms for Tories versus the 1 term for Labour will perpetuate forever to the detriment of ALL people bar the Nobles and Wealthy Owners. It must be done urgently.

[@martineyles]

I actually think there may be some desire to change the lords and the regions, so I don't entirely agree with you this time. The wider party is interested in PR, but on this, I do think the government may well ignore them, so I think commons reform is less likely.

[@peterwoodham769]

Did you expect something else!

[@jillmorris2521]

A true labour government could easily help the worse off by raising the allowance to say £15,000 and increase it to make up on the rich. They could also have cut the cost of fuel that would be far more helpful when peoples bills for Gas and electric can be anything from £2000 upwards, 15% cut would save £300 minimum and also reduce the stupid standing charge that penalises the poorest who use the least 200 over200 £ before you even use 1 kg of electric , do you know as a single pensioner high news less electricity than the standing charge?

[@danksheev66]

Much like Unison is the lame duck trade union.

[@michaelsrowland]

Does he mean change or reform uk

[@GurmitBSingh]

Seems You mean labour of bosses (. Of wealth have no friends) not for labour under him ??? I mean it a person going after senior citizens , Diabolical???? Suspected ?

[@karlarcher8773]

Can you add English who want to be independent of the other nations.

[@chrisrobinson860]

Brilliant! Push the issue with your MP. We in Scotland would be glad to leave the Westminster cabal. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@SaveEarthPlsBeKind]

Go for it, surprised people ifr England aren't demanding independence, would save a few quid and Scotland would sell their oil and renewables to you at a good price I'm sure. ;-)

[@william_marshal]

@@chrisrobinson860 Yeah sure, that's why SNP were nearly wiped out at the last election !!!

[@Redf322]

@@william_marshalactually no it was more likely the corruption scandal.

[@Redf322]

I am amazed how many people who want us to be a tiny English tax haven. Tax havens have few jobs and services. They only help the wealthy not their own people.

[@James-v6f2c]

One needs only one requirement to become an MP and that is to be a liar !

[@MrRoblig1]

How do we know Labour is interested in reform? Well firstly Starmer is a continuation tory

[@roymillsjnr5172]

We in safe hands with Richard , I'd sleep at night .

[@gj55223]

Labour has lost a lot of support and will struggle to win it back, and I don’t believe the Tories will win back enough support for a majority in 2029. Besides Reform UK will split the centre-right vote but not with enough for a majority. In other words it’s likely that there will be a record low turnout and a hung parliament. That’s the time for the reform you speak of to be enacted. The next local elections in May 2025 could be the time to start campaigning for reform because Labour are going to get whipped. Let’s build a fairer system for 2029.

[@Redf322]

Yes but that is bad. Reform are just a more extreme Tory party. They offer no real solutions. Even to their main grift immigration.

[@schrodingerscat1863]

I think you are right, if Reform can gain support from Labour and create a 3 way split with parliamentary seats actual electoral reform is more likely to happen.

[@ohboyz222]

Pretty my thinking. The Tories are a busted flush for the foreseeable, particularly the further right they pivot to meet Farage. The progressive alliances are growing as we now see in parliament, which I hope could reduce Labour to minority government status.

[@ohboyz222]

Pretty much my reckoning. The wind of change is blowing through our political system which has given the Tory party a near-fatal blow. Next could be Labour. Change is coming, albeit painfully slow, and the less Starmer offers the more support his party will haemorrhage. A 3 way split hung parliament next time between progressives, Labour and the centre-right could be the outcome. Only then does change begin to look possible.

[@richardgregory3684]

"independent of England" - with the ludicrous implication that Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are in some way colonial possessions or ruled by England. The word you are lookign for is separation from, but of course, nationalists shy away from saying that because they want to promote the image of themselves as being oppressed by the wicked English. It's like saying the Vrexiters wanted to be "independent from Germany"

[@gordonmackenzie4512]

But England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 is Boss 🤷‍♂️

[@richardgregory3684]

@@gordonmackenzie4512 No, but England does have 85% of the population, and therefore has the biggest say. Just as in the EU, the big countries have more say than the small ones. Sounds pretty fair and democratic to me.

[@billB101]

Talking about critical thinking, just the level of bias here.

[@sarahjaneross2918]

Green party for me 💚

[@schrodingerscat1863]

You failed to highlight the enormous damage Labour could do over the next 5 years because of the huge parliamentary majority they have and their totally inept governance. Also it wasn't 33% of the people at all it was less than 20% of the electorate. They only got 33% of the people who could be bothered to vote this time such is the apathy created by our fundamentally broken system. Probably a larger problem is that Tories are no longer conservative being little different to a Blairite Labour party just with different colour ties.

[@georgeross9834]

Aye

[@lemsip207]

Starmer will never get rod of the Bishop's bench in the House of Lords. He may open it up to other religions but that would mean more religion not multi culturalism. Its why he wants to increase the number of faith schools because they groom children to be compliant and protest. Turn the other cheek and never complain. Accept your lot.

[@Incognito-jf1dr]

@@lemsip207 😂 he doesn't want to increase the number of faith schools.

[@lemsip207]

@@Incognito-jf1dr He does.

[@mrso9399]

Yes please Cymru Annibyniaeth!

[@stevencalvert9454]

Nothing will ever change I'm afraid as the worst part of all mps is there self preservation at all costs and this goes against everything that needs to change

[@manoo422]

Labour got less than 10 million votes in the election, post election polling by Yougov showed that only 5% of those voters voted for Labour due to their policies. Labour only has a mandate for its policies from less than half a million people in the country!!

[@clivewilliams3661]

The constitution in UK generally works quite well. The House of Lords does a remarkably good job BECAUSE it is unelected and doesn't have to pander to populist views, it has proved time and again that sense prevails over idealism and trying to win votes to retain your seat. Just look at the political disaster that is the US two house system, where one party controls the House and the other the Senate by virtue of having elections at different times for their seats and being subject to the fickleness of the public vote. This year alone US Govt has been brought to a near standstill, with the risk of failing to pay Govt workers 7 times! All due to eternal bickering and posturing between the ruling parties of each House. Out first past the post voting system is ideal IMO because it relies on the fact that you are voting for a person to represent you and you know who that person is after the election, there is an intimate connection between voter and MP. Any other system, for example proportional representation, means that you will be voting for a party, as happened with the EU Parliament elections, where most people didn't have a clue who the candidates were nor who went on to represent them, which then makes the MP less accountable. At this last election I voted for the candidate that I thought would do a good job that was not necessarily the party I supported. Any other system apart from first past the post would likely see the death of the independent candidate in our system.

[@OneAndOnlyMe]

I don't want a "radical" party. I want a party that does slow and steady change, which Starmer's Labour is doing (over ten years). Radical parties get you the kind of mess that Liz Truss got us into. I'm all for some reform I Parliament (votes at 16 for sure, and secure digital voting like they have in Estonia), but I would keep first pas the post. PR would mean far left and far right single issue parties take more seats that they will only use for grandstanding.

[@Redf322]

You work for Starmer dont you?