Tory's Still Say 'No' to Change

11.54.58am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 2nd May 2010

Despite what they promise about change there's one thing that Tory's say they won't change and that's our outdated electoral system of 'first-past-the-post'.

In response to a question at last nights hustings in Bovey Tracey Parish Church Phil Hutty (Lib Dems), Moira Macdonald (Labour) and Bob Edwards (UKIP) all recognised that some form of change was needed. Mel Stride (Con) begged to differ, however, and instead offered up a Tory policy of tinkering with the existing system.

Under the present system one party can gain control of Parliament even if only a quarter of the people support them. The Tories don't like coalitions because they say it leads to weak government but in fact some of the strongest economies in Europe have coalition governments where the best of all the talents can be accommodated.

And (as Phil Hutty pointed out in his response) don't forget that the UK has previously turned to coalition governments in times of crisis (2nd World War and the Great Depression of the 1930's).

Other questions were asked concerning the National Debt, Fair Trade, The Effect of Supermarkets on Farm Incomes, Religious Toleration, Unfair Funding Formula for Devon Schools, the Public Sector Pensions Deficit and Assisted Suicide.