Parliamentary Search

Proceeding contribution from Baroness Laing of Elderslie (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Monday, 1 November 2010. It occurred during Debate on bill on Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill.

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman is speaking from sincere and heartfelt beliefs, but that is totally illogical. If there are, say, 76,000 potential voters in a constituency and 40,000 of them decide not to vote, that is their democratic choice, just as it is the democratic choice of the other 37,000—I think I got the arithmetic wrong there—to cast their vote. People who decide not to vote are exercising their democratic judgment in the same way as people who decide to vote. There has been a lot of discussion about where the heart is, communities, boundaries, and so on—matters that appear to be anything other than purely arithmetical.

Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
517 c706 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Boundary commissions Constituency size Alternative vote Cornwall Elections Electorate Distribution of seats Electoral register General elections Isles of Scilly Isle of Wight Local government Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Assembly Members Public consultation National Assembly for Wales Publicity Referendums Public inquiries Scotland Voting methods Reform Wales Scottish Parliament Unitary councils Ynys Môn Na h-Eileanan an Iar Orkney and Shetland
Legislation
Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill 2010-12
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk