Post

Liberal Democrats
@libdems.org.uk

Labour should pay the £5 million it will cost to run by-elections in Makerfield and Greater Manchester.

21 reposts66 likes

Adrian Faiers
@adrianfaiers.bsky.social

Except this could provide an important challenge to Reform and lead to a more fundamental change in the democratic process to improve fair representation. The LibDems along with the Greens should make way after securing guarantees of PR legislation. bsky.app/profile/caro...

Caroline Lucas@carolinelucas.bsky.social

I hope this isn’t true. There are times when it’s more important to put country before party. This is one of them. Burnham’s longstanding commitment to a fairer voting system could transform our democracy & counter the dire threat of a Reform UK government elected on a minority of the vote

theguardian.comGreens suggest they will properly contest byelection in blow to BurnhamStatement follows speculation party would not field candidate in Makerfield or barely fight seat
R
@liburghal.bsky.social

There are 400 Labour MPs in Westminster, any one of them could do the job without costing, already financially stretched, councils a lot of money. We do not *need* this by-election. The Labour Party decided to have it!

Jimmyrayreid
@jimmyrayreid.bsky.social

Getting angry at the cost of elections, like it is some luxury, is incredibly authoritarian coded. The technocrats that control Westminster think democracy is an inconvenience.

R
@liburghal.bsky.social

If the by-election had been caused by a death, criminal act or impropriety I would agree that this is a crass line. This by-election has been caused by one man's failure and another's ambition. There are 400 Labour MPs who are eligible to be PM, but yet councils are baring the cost of hubris.

Luke
@helloitsluke.bsky.social

How do you distinguish different causes of by election, though? Let's say "impropriety" was an exception. Josh Simons can certainly claim that one!

R
@liburghal.bsky.social

There was no physical or legal impediment to Josh Simons remaining an MP; he is still alive and a free man. As for impropriety, he has not been subject to a successful recall petition so there is no reason for the by-election to happen.

ed2209.bsky.social
@ed2209.bsky.social

It's all self-indulgent crap. The people voted for the current set-up, and to change it already is like acting in the manner of an oligarch changing the manager of his football team because of a few bad results.

nodonnell.bsky.social
@nodonnell.bsky.social

I would look at what it would cost for a general election. But in the current circumstance I don't know what this could mean. Labour are to focussed on wanting to stay in power. Have they not realised that they have done what the Tories have done. Made a mockery of British politics.