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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/live/2016/sep/16/will-boundary-changes-alter-politics-for-good-join-our-live-look-at-the-week
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| Boundary changes and human selfishness – join our live look at the week | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.17pm BST | |
| 13:17 | |
| Just a couple more perspectives on the boundary changes here | |
| Basildon is a prime example of the failure to represent communities. The boundary proposals sees the town split three ways, and then joined with unassociated parts of neighbour towns in order to achieve the magic 75,000 or close to. Indeed this makes worse the similar carves up of previous reviews that have seen any hint of 'non-tory' voting wards split from each other and joined with wards that heavily 'do the right thing'!But with this review even wards are proposed to be split so errant polling districts can be moved out to preserve the number of Tory seats.Move over into neighbouring Castle Point and find the Castle has been moved into Southend West - so now there is just the 'Point'!How are MPs supposed to represent their community when the constituencies divide communities, even divide streets simply to make the electoral map remain as blue as possible.Of course, Welwyn and Hatfield escapes unscathed as the multiple personality MP there cannot be in anyway attacked without massive reprisals. | |
| Are we the media to blame? | |
| What's really the problem is that the media are overwhelmingly biased in favour of the Tories, most of the papers are owned by one wealthy man, and TV is often obsessed with the same wealthy elite. If people voted in their own best interest then Labour would win many more seats than they currently do. It is only who controls the thoughts of the voters that matters. | |
| 12.52pm BST | |
| 12:52 | |
| George Monbiot answers readers' questions | |
| Matthew Holmes | |
| Elsewhere on the site this morning George Monbiot was live and answering questions on environmental issues. | |
| I was fascinated to read his perspectives, particularly after seeing his blog this week titled ‘We’d never kill an albatross or gorilla: but we let others do it on our behalf’. | |
| The piece was a stark look at human selfishness and included some shocking pictures taken by Chris Jordan on Midway Atoll of albatross corpses rotting away to reveal the rubbish they contain. | |
| Your reaction was particularly interesting: can articles like this change our behaviour? | |
| Some people will never get it. Their world begins and ends with themselves. | |
| A depressing realisation - but I don't want to go out of this world leaving it worse than when I arrived. So I'll try to make an improvement. As the old Victorian hymn said - you in your small corner, and I in mine. | |
| Anyone care to join in? | |
| Hi George - you are indefatigable and a source of inspiration for many, including me. Thanks for your vital work. | |
| My theory of change is that we have to learn about, publicise, encourage and experiment with, then propagate widely, radically more accountable ways of doing government. People generally, acting together through mechanisms such as participatory budgets or citizens' assemblies chosen by lot - are far wiser than elites chosen by elections. Everything stems from this - not least the accepted lunacy mindset that locks us into policies of economic growth versus stable-state economies. | |
| Without changing our disastrously dysfunctional governments - and very rapidly too - we are doomed as a species. | |
| Updated | |
| at 1.09pm BST | |
| 12.45pm BST | 12.45pm BST |
| 12:45 | 12:45 |
| Here are some more of your comments on boundary changes. | Here are some more of your comments on boundary changes. |
| As for the boundary changes, I think (though I haven't looked at the detailed maths) that there is some truth in the assertion that Labour have had an historic advantage, and these proposals will level the playing field. It's a blow for Labour that this has hit them at the same time as their wipe-out in Scotland, but really, isn't it all a distraction. The whole electoral system needs reform. The main parties get a disproportionate number of seats for the votes they receive - some form of PR or hybrid PR is long overdue imv. | As for the boundary changes, I think (though I haven't looked at the detailed maths) that there is some truth in the assertion that Labour have had an historic advantage, and these proposals will level the playing field. It's a blow for Labour that this has hit them at the same time as their wipe-out in Scotland, but really, isn't it all a distraction. The whole electoral system needs reform. The main parties get a disproportionate number of seats for the votes they receive - some form of PR or hybrid PR is long overdue imv. |
| Nah, Labour cries every time because that's what every opposition party that's about to lose seats will do. I believe Conservatives already have to win fewer votes per seat anyway, the reason the polling average favours Labour is precisely because they have far too much support in areas where they don't need it and lesser support where they need it. This is why even Labour leads would lead to Conservative Majorities. Hardly favouring Labour. | Nah, Labour cries every time because that's what every opposition party that's about to lose seats will do. I believe Conservatives already have to win fewer votes per seat anyway, the reason the polling average favours Labour is precisely because they have far too much support in areas where they don't need it and lesser support where they need it. This is why even Labour leads would lead to Conservative Majorities. Hardly favouring Labour. |
| Even last election, even allowing for the polls to be out 1-2%, a Conservative Victory is by a far greater margin than by actual numbers. It's the UKIP+Conservative vote combined that is much higher and underrepresented but not actual party vote of Tories | Even last election, even allowing for the polls to be out 1-2%, a Conservative Victory is by a far greater margin than by actual numbers. It's the UKIP+Conservative vote combined that is much higher and underrepresented but not actual party vote of Tories |
| Do add yours below. | Do add yours below. |
| 12.36pm BST | 12.36pm BST |
| 12:36 | 12:36 |
| Do you agree with this commenter? | Do you agree with this commenter? |
| Labour always makes these complaints about gerrymandering every time a Boundary Commission review comes up, because it removes the accumulated distortion in Labour's favour as populations move out of the inner cities. | Labour always makes these complaints about gerrymandering every time a Boundary Commission review comes up, because it removes the accumulated distortion in Labour's favour as populations move out of the inner cities. |
| 12.13pm BST | 12.13pm BST |
| 12:13 | 12:13 |
| Boundary changes on the agenda | Boundary changes on the agenda |
| Anushka Asthana | Anushka Asthana |
| Controversial proposals by the boundary commissions dominated politics earlier this week, the Guardian’s joint political editor explains. | |
| In Westminster this week, it has been less Brexit and more boundaries on the agenda for many MPs. Monday saw proposals for sweeping changes to the electoral map that will see over 500 politicians across England and Wales having their constituencies redrawn. Northern Ireland has already had its plans put forward, with Scotland’s due soon. | In Westminster this week, it has been less Brexit and more boundaries on the agenda for many MPs. Monday saw proposals for sweeping changes to the electoral map that will see over 500 politicians across England and Wales having their constituencies redrawn. Northern Ireland has already had its plans put forward, with Scotland’s due soon. |
| The policy, which was first put on the table by David Cameron, and then taken up by Theresa May, aims to reduce the number of MPs in Westminster from 650 to 600, to cut the cost of politics. But it also aims to equalise the number of people on the electoral register in each seat, a shift that will be to the Conservative’s advantage, with Labour losing 23 seats in total. | The policy, which was first put on the table by David Cameron, and then taken up by Theresa May, aims to reduce the number of MPs in Westminster from 650 to 600, to cut the cost of politics. But it also aims to equalise the number of people on the electoral register in each seat, a shift that will be to the Conservative’s advantage, with Labour losing 23 seats in total. |
| The party of government claims that the move fixes an inherent imbalance that has favoured Labour for decades. Labour believe it is a barefaced gerrymander. | The party of government claims that the move fixes an inherent imbalance that has favoured Labour for decades. Labour believe it is a barefaced gerrymander. |
| The Boundary Commissions have stressed that these are initial proposals, and a major exercise in questioning the decisions by MPs is likely to result in dramatic changes between now and 2018 when the Commissions will put forward their final plans. | The Boundary Commissions have stressed that these are initial proposals, and a major exercise in questioning the decisions by MPs is likely to result in dramatic changes between now and 2018 when the Commissions will put forward their final plans. |
| Will they pass a vote of parliament? Only if May can ease concerns on her own backbenches, where some 17 seats are due to abolished, the same number as her working majority. | Will they pass a vote of parliament? Only if May can ease concerns on her own backbenches, where some 17 seats are due to abolished, the same number as her working majority. |
| Updated | |
| at 1.00pm BST | |
| 12.01pm BST | 12.01pm BST |
| 12:01 | 12:01 |
| Welcome to this week's Guardian Social | Welcome to this week's Guardian Social |
| Matthew Holmes | Matthew Holmes |
| Hello and welcome to another weekly Guardian Social, a place for you to discuss the week as it happened. We’ll highlight some of the stories we’ve enjoyed over the past seven days, with journalists explaining a little bit about how they came to be and their background (including our joint political editor on those proposed boundary changes). But most importantly we want to hear from you. What did you enjoy? Have you spotted something elsewhere you think we should be talking about? | |
| As well as posting in the comments you can fill out our form if you have specific questions for Guardian journalists – we’re hoping to answer some of them here today. | As well as posting in the comments you can fill out our form if you have specific questions for Guardian journalists – we’re hoping to answer some of them here today. |
| See you in the comments! | See you in the comments! |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.59pm BST |