Nigel Farage, proportional representation, and mandatory ID cards

Who would Rory elect as the next Prime Minister? If Rishi Sunak had not kept Jeremy Hunt on, what would the budget look like? And how come both Rory and Alastair have lost followers on twitter? Listen to this week's Question Time to hear Rory and Alastair answer these questions and many more. 

Producers: Dom Johnson + Nicole Maslen

Exec Producer: Jack Davenport

[P--B]

Upon a sporting team from my school visiting Eton ~25 years ago, an Etonian asked one of them 'what is it like coming from a second rate public school?' 🙄. Fortunately he replied 'I don't know, I've only just got here.' 😂

[feewilliams]

I did my PhD thesis on the House of Lords, and part of it was the procedure in the House of Lords, but particularly on the links to the manifesto, with an international comparison. The Australian Senate can potentially be very strong, as strong as the US sentate, but it has become significantly more reticent over using its powers

[brian]

We have compulsory ID in the Netherlands. When I tell Dutch people that the UK has no ID cards, their jaws drop and they ask how can you run a country without ID cards. The answer is you can't. Offial population is what 66 million. The real figure is something like 10 million more (by supermarket sales and seage procesing).

[NSBarnett]

Labour will not discuss PR because it is not a clear win in the battle for the votes of floating voters in marginal constituencies; in fact, even if it were, countering Tory fptp arguments detracts from debating the issues which are important to those voters. (Chris Taylor's rhetorical question Rory read out hits the nail on the head: if asked about PR, they can respond with "We're going to reform the Lords".) The only argument which will convince Starmer and his associates is "You will lose in 2028 (or 2029) under fptp", which can't convincingly be made until at least 2027. The trouble is, it may not be convincing until its too late to legislate.

[stottybox]

Didn't know you were on here, always download your podcast.

[dwdei]

Rory, if the Eton thing was "part of a generalised coarsening of political debate" then the state school kids would have been booing at the Etonians.
It isn't generalised. It is entirely on one side.
No more false both-sidesism please. Leave that to the likes of T***p.

[tompearce]

Interesting Rory couldn't outright condemn the current ID plan when it clearly discriminates against younger and poorer people who tend not to vote Tory. ID cards would be better but that's not the plan.

[kayedal-haddad]

PR, Federalism and Reform of The House of Lords should all be on the agenda for Labour for its next Manifesto.

[gilleek]

Very good pronunciation of Taoiseach. Chapeau!

[QuantumWalnut]

Another way of making upper-house more democratic without causing the deadlock issue is to let regional governments appoint representatives (as is the case in Germany and European Union). The upper-house would have limited power, such as needing absolute majority to veto a bill, but they would still have some degree of influence.

This would however require UK to transition to a federal system.

[Wearywillie-xt]

The population of the UK is nearly 70 million. If it costs 180 million for ID cards per decade, the cost is £2.57 each. Are you sure your figures are correct?

[joprocter]

Something unfair in voting.. Alliance NI got 17 seats
Jim MCALLISTER WHO GOT HALF THEIR VOTES GOT 1, SEAT..HOWS THAT FAIR

[peterdollins]

Very sad? It is typical of private schools through my 80 years as a UK Citizen. Take away their charity status and bring in an eccellent state education for the UK. The education I was offered here was shit--reading saved me not schooling. In Canada went to Sir George Williams University now named Concordia. One Lecturer gave me three A's my Candian wife who studied there told me was the Lecturer telling me he could do no better. Eton and all the Public schools are shit in every way. Not convinced, read Orewell or Robert Graves on their schooling with so many others. CLOSE them down. Qatar bought the World Cup. See Johnny Harris video on that and on the misuse of bought in Labourers used as Slaves with 6, 500 dead from intolerable conditions and more made sick for life.

[paulthomas]

Tell me is thsat Rory walking behind Prince, now King, Charles on page 61 of the latest issue of Chap magazine. Methinks it is.

[QuantumWalnut]

In my opinion, the more fundemental question about House of Lords is why do you need it if UK is an unitary state?

One can argue a federal polity such as US, Germany, or EU need an upper house to ensure stability, but since UK does not have a federal system, why even have an upper house?

[chrislodzinski]

In general terms I support ID cards, pure common sense. The Tories bringing it in now is definitely to discourage votes for the opposition. Everyone who needs one should have it at no cost; Driving Licence holders probably wouldn't need a separate card.

[rorykeegan]

This obsession with reforming the Lords is a silly. It actually works quite well.

[t.a.k.palfrey]

Oh, we Brits do get in a twist when we hear of bad behaviour at public or independent schools, don't we? Name calling, race or gender or culturally based derogatory banter is never acceptable, of course, but do these critics think such behaviour doesn't happen in state schools too? If they do, then I suggest they visit any secondary school in their neighbourhood soon. This doesn't excuse Eton, but ironically it makes it more typical of schools in general, rather than exceptional.

[bm]

Eton is a definition of English hooliganism, quintessential of England the rectal part of Europe.

[nicholasbethell]

If voter ID isn't about voter suppression, then ID cards should be sent to every voter free of charge; like they are in Northern Ireland.