We now have a fully fledged multi-party array, operating within a two party voting system arena, which means every individual constituency contest can be influenced by street based activism - isn't it time for progressive parties to collaborate and maximise this means of stopping ReformUK?

Sadly, our not fit for purpose voting system means HOW you vote is more or less meaningless; it's WHERE you vote that really counts! With a half decent voting system to elect MPs (Single Transferable Vote anyone?) you could express a nuanced range of preferences to accurately reflect your wishes?

A step in the right direction but SV represents only a very small step - I am opposed in principle to the Mayoral model for local governance. What the UK really needs is root and branch constitutional reform, including the potential for the UK to go Federal?

America is Gone and Europe Must Replace It Europe must seize this historic moment, stepping up as America abdicates global leadership.

Great article for SE - The Trump inspired debacle has confirmed what most thoughtful Europeans have been saying for years - Europe must renew its commitment to relentless integration, replete with single defence strategy and associated military industrial complex www.socialeurope.eu/america-is-g...

Sign the Petition National Commission on Electoral Reform

Please support/sign the petition calling for a National Commission on Electoral Reform actionstorm.org/petitions/nc...

St Pancras and Channel tunnel plan rail routes to Germany and Switzerland Partnership comes as London station looks at ways to almost triple passenger numbers

Finally, decades late, direct services from St. Pancras to Bordeaux, Zurich, München, Köln and places en-route would mean UKbased travellers no longer reliant on seemingly ubiquitous short-haul air, unleashing the potential of a burgeoning continental HSR network? www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Coming up in the Commons 27-31 January Find out what's coming up in the House of Commons 27-31 January

30th Jan provides an opportunity to make your voice heard - contact your MP, ask them to attend the Commons debate on voting reform - MPs need to be told; voters want electoral reform!
www.parliament.uk/business/new...
@westcountryvoices.bsky.social; @peterstefanovic.bsky.social; @cornwalllive.com

Lib Dem report says leftwing alliance not needed because of tactical voting Exclusive: Study of 2024 election says party’s refusal to make formal deals with others was vindicated in ballot

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Insanely short termist (until next GE!) analysis from Tim Farron - yes, the LibDems know exactly how to game the current system for maximum gain but his conclusions ignore the fundamentally dysfunctional role of FPTP!

Are the new Parliamentary seat projections worth paying attention to? NOT really, given the narrative routinely ascribed to 'hung' General Election results?
"The model estimates that an election today would produce a highly fragmented and unstable Parliament with 5 parties holding over 30 seats."

Dr Chris van Tulleken: ‘It’s strange to have a clone of yourself in the world’ The broadcaster talks being a proud twin, a unwilling pilot, and a keen advocate for a better food system

@Chris Van Tulleken: "I do not care what you eat......I believe that everyone should have the opportunity, freedom and information to do what is best for them."
Agreed - informed choice is vital but facts (about food) is exactly what the food industry prevents?
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Devolution, across provincial England is a sham - the most credible, sustainable solution to the UK's deeply entrenched, centralised state apparatus is to go Federal, replete with codified constitution - a bit like the one GB created for post WWII Germany? www.btg-bestellservice.de/pdf/80201000...

MPs back proportional representation system for UK elections in symbolic vote Lib Dem proposal is passed by 137 votes to 135 with some Labour backbench support but is unlikely to become law

Great result for common sense (and reformers) today, even though the Bill proposed by Sarah Olney will not go any further but it does raise the profile of Electoral Reform and symbolises relentlessly increasing public support witnessed over the past few decades www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Agreed George - the difference here being the "Free Vote" protocol attached to the Commons debate, allowing MPs to express their views, free from party whips and even, shock horror, consult with their constituents before entering the division lobbies - Parliamentary democracy functioning correctly?

On a 17-hour train journey I glimpsed our future – and it was ugly | Zoe Williams The climate crisis will cause dramatic, life-threatening events, but also a general, broad-brush worsening of everything

Kudos to #ZoeWilliams spurning all attempts to push her on to short haul airborne travel links during her recent visit to Köln - www.theguardian.com/commentisfre.... Our rail journey, to visit Photokina fair back in 2018, also had its problems but they were on the UK side of La Manche!

“The keys are premised on the proposition that a rational, pragmatic electorate decides whether the White House party has governed well enough to get another four years,”

I think I've spotted where you went wrong - the US electorate is no longer rational or pragmatic?