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on 29th August 2009 at 03:57, Steve Brown said:

I speak for myself here as I don’t think we have a particular line on this question.  however, this is somewhat of a distraction as it is a form of tinkering with something which is completely broken anyway.  The present poitical set up is so dominated by the forces of capital that it has become too difficult for ordinary workers to exert any real influence on the political process.  Through the emasculating of LP democracy, to the lack of any desire to get involved in the LP in the first place, represents a concious policy of keeping working people out of the democratic process.  Also the many attacks over the years by the LP leadership on the TU link is yet another attempt to remove the working class from the policy arena.  Whether it’s FPTP or PR really doesn’t matter.  What needs to be addressed is the political and economic rule of the minority over the majority.  Therefore the FPTP or PR debate is a political one and the real battle is the struggle for party democracy based on the fight for socialist policies.  We would advocate anyway a policy of workers control, of public ownership based on the democratic intervention of workers in their industries and services.  This suplants any notion of FPTP or PR and, in effect and in many respects, renders it a non discussion.

Steve Brown.  NC member Northern Region.

on 13th September 2009 at 15:06, Andrew Fisher said:

As Steve says, the LRC currently has no policy on FPTP or PR.

However, there is a discussion paper on The Left Case for Proportional Representation on the website.

Also, the LRC conference on Sat 14th November would be an opportunity for LRC policy to be adopted.

I agree with Steve though that the debate is not one I would prioritise. We want democracy widened not the current limited system tinkered around with.

on 20th September 2009 at 07:39, Michael Chewter said:

The issue of democracy is surely critical for socialists.We advance where we can. Of course I support a socialist international democracy which is concerned with all aspects of society. However, FPTP favours the big two parties to the exclusion of anti-capitalist groups, among others.Labour is dominated by Blue Labour and it will increasingly squeeze out socialist MPs. Where will the socialist voices be heard then ? Not at the centre of politics, but only in the margins.