A SECOND BALLOT AT ONCE.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—The most striking result of the election is the large number of Members returned by minority votes. Something must be done about this, but not only would any general measure of Second Ballot, Alternative Vote or Proportional Representation mean a fresh General Election very shortly, but the present Parliament will be no place for an adequate discussion of the various considerations involved.
I suggest that, as an emergency measure, a Second Ballot should be taken at once in the constituencies where three or more candidates went to the poll. There is no Constitutional difficulty. Without a dissolution it would be quite possible for the new Parliament to pass a short Bill declaring seats vacant as per schedule, the two leading candidates at the last election to have been duly nominated, and that the Returning Officers should take a fresh poll as between such candidates. There is no need to speculate as to the result of such fresh election upon the fortunes of any political party. Such con- siderations are of little importance compared with securing that no constituency shall be represented by a Member who is opposed to the views of a majority of the electors.—I am, Sir, &c., J. SCOTT DUCHERS. 2 New Court, Carey Street, W.C. 2.
Previous page
