New boundaries also posing problems for Labour
The prospect of brand new boundaries is also posing big problems for Labour, quite apart from the likelihood that the party will lose seats as a result of the process.
According to last month's National Executive meeting actually discussed the problem of not being able to pick candidates until the boundary review is complete.
One idea the NEC considered was instead to let local parties identify "parliamentary spokespersons" or "campaign leaders" for existing seats, to fulfill many of the between-election duties normally carried out by candidates.
But some MPs on the NEC were unhappy that these new local champions might then have an unfair advantage in the process of choosing new candidates for the reduced number of seats.
I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out. Follow me on
Comment number 1.
At 4th Aug 2010, Isatou wrote:Labour still complaining that the current system, which massively favours them, is going to be made fairer. What a cheek !
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Comment number 2.
At 4th Aug 2010, stevie wrote:it's not going to be made fairer, it means that the Tories will benefit by getting a hundred seats at the expense of Labour. These things were always decided by the Boundries Commission not by Dave and George in the Bullingdon sloshing champers, they even want to change the day so it falls on the same day as other elections so to muddy the waters even more. This so called Government does not have an overall majority, they do nat have a mandate and yet they behave as though they have a 150 maj, get real and bring some honesty to the debate.....
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Comment number 3.
At 5th Aug 2010, Isatou wrote:Stevie,
Well it has been biased in favour of Labour for decades, so maybe it is fair to let the other parties have a turn !
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Comment number 4.
At 6th Aug 2010, stevie wrote:by all means have fair elections but this lot are out to skew and redraw the boundaries that it will be a return to the Wigs and the Gentlemen players....
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