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Archive: theindependent

Tabloid trouble

10 September 2005 16:07

Categories: Current affairs, Newspapers

I’ve already got quite a lot to say about the new design of The Guardian, just from looking at today’s four-page sample issue, but I’ll wait until I see the full paper on Monday.

In the meantime, Kitty Killer reckons this all spells danger for The Independent.

To put it lightly, and on the condition that Monday’s relaunch is not a disaster, from next week [The Independent] are fucked. For what the Indepedent had in gimmicks – tabloid size, innovative front page design, endless suduko, concept front pages – it lacks in many areas in which the Guardian embarrasses them. The Independent’s editorial is turgid. Its columnists are faceless and reflect the middling ground the paper once held 3 years ago. Many resort to natting on about their own lives or say little of consequence. It lacks a (good) sense of humour, its sport coverage is poor and it has a crap diary.

I bought the Indy once last year, and once the year before in its broadsheet form. Both times I found the paper ridiculously boring, lacking anything in the way of interesting features. I found their ‘concept front pages’ silly (although it seems to be just about the only thing that works on a tabloid-sized paper). “Viewspaper” is just an empty buzzword to me. Its tabloid size did make it much more tempting to buy though.

Right now I’m liking the Berliner size. I’ve wished for years that The Guardian would go smaller. The broadsheet is probably dead now. Is The Herald still a broadsheet?

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I want my vote to count

26 May 2005 19:14

Categories: Make My Vote Count, Newspapers

David Lipsey, chair of Make Votes Count, made a speech today in the House of Lords.

As they say, read it all.

But here’s an interesting bit (emphasis mine).

…[On the Today programme the Lord Chancellor] put forward three arguments with which I want briefly to take issue. First, he said that change would mean coalition government. Secondly, he said, it would encourage extremist parties. And thirdly, he said, there was no groundswell of opinion for change.

My Lords, at the heart of the first two charges lies a crude error. My noble friend was making the schoolboy howler of confusing electoral reform with proportional representation.

There are of course some electoral reformers who support PR, and good luck to them. But I am emphatically not one…

I always refer to electoral reform as “PR” on this blog, and of course that is lazy and incorrect of me.

I agree with Make Votes Count here:

Our goal is to reform the House of Commons with a voting system that balances the principles of:

  • Broad proportionality
  • Stable government
  • Extending voter choice
  • Maintaining a constituency link.

PR only covers the first of those requirements. But all four of them could be met by a system such as AV+ or STV (the latter being my personal preference because it already exists and is proven to work).

So then it comes to asking myself what shall I call it? “PR” is inaccurate. “A voting system that is broadly proportional, encourages stable government, extends voter choice and maintains a constituency link” is too long.

The Independent have their “Campaign for Real Democracy,” but I don’t like that because it’s almost a New Labour-esque use of a fluffy buzzword. “My democracy is better than yours, so neh!”

I think I’ll just say that I want my vote to count.

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Open letter

26 May 2005 13:50

Categories: Make My Vote Count, Newspapers

Charles Kennedy has written an open letter to Tony Blair.

…When you were in opposition, you actively courted my predecessor Paddy Ashdown with promises about reform of the voting system and a switch to proportional representation. In government, you set up a commission under the late Roy Jenkins – then refused to implement its findings. You set up a Joint Consultative Committee, which continued until it became clear that there was to be no serious movement on the matter of fair votes.

Prime Minister, you have failed the electorate over the issue of PR. Under your premiership, the Scottish Parliament and Welsh assembly have been established and, like the elections to the European parliament and the Greater London Assembly, these are conducted under various systems involving PR. Next year in Scotland, local government will be transformed with a switch to a proportional system. Yet there is no movement, or any sign of a serious debate about the principle – let alone a timetable – for the same degree of democracy to be offered for elections to Westminster or to local government in England and Wales.

…

We have had promises, reports and committees set up by your government, but nothing has changed. Now, the only possible way forward is a Prime Ministerial statement about your personal position on electoral reform and your Government’s intentions. There should be no equivocation and a clear vision.

Surely, the time has come to listen and to engage with the nations of the UK It is time to make a real commitment to resolve this deepening democratic deficit. A decision on PR and a timetable for its introduction would be a fine and enduring legacy to bequeath the British people.

Via A Logical Voice.

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Another petition

19 May 2005 18:41

Categories: Asides, Make My Vote Count, Newspapers, Politics

As part of The Independent‘s ‘Campaign for Democracy’, the newspaper has set up yet another petition. So if you support the idea, why not go and sign it? (Via.)

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