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scrap the coronation system

Electoral reform ● National by FreeMarketeer83 · 🏷️ 1. Concerned Citizen · Local · 1 month ago
3

I propose we introduce primaries for all major parties to choose their leaders, it's the only way to ensure the people actually get a say in who's running the show. This is needed because the current system is just a bunch of backroom deals and stitch ups, with the public having no real input until it's too late.

The way it would work is simple, each party would hold a series of debates and votes, open to all members, to choose their leader, this would give the public a chance to see the potential leaders in action and make a more informed decision. It's not rocket science, the Americans have been doing it for years and it seems to work okay for them.

I'm not naive, I know the parties will resist this, they like the current system because it allows them to keep control in the hands of a small elite, but that's exactly why we need to change it.

FreeMarketeer83 💺 Backbencher Local

🇬🇧 The Sovereign Nation Party

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Discussion (9)

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So we're going to subject the entire country to a year-long X Factor-style competition just to pick a party leader? Sounds exhausting.
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Yeah, because the current system where we find out who
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Honestly, if it means fewer reality TV shows cluttering up
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And who pays for all these primary elections, on top of the usual campaign costs?
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And who's going to audit those primary results to make sure they're on the up and up, or is that just another government expense we'll be expected to foot?
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Primaries sound good in theory, but I worry they'd just make the loudest voices win. Think about some of the local council elections where the candidate with the most aggressive flyers and the most bombastic speeches gets in, not necessarily the one with the best plan for infrastructure.

It might end up rewarding charisma over competence, which isn't exactly a great foundation for running a country.
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I understand the concern that primaries might favour charisma over competence, but I think this risk can be mitigated with a well-designed system. For instance, the Labour party's use of a mix of membership votes and trade union endorsements has helped to ensure that leaders are chosen based on a balance of popularity and policy substance.

The example of Jeremy Corbyn's election as Labour leader in 2015 is a case in point - while he was undoubtedly a charismatic figure, his campaign was also built around a clear set of policies that resonated with party members and the wider public. This suggests that with the right framework in place, primaries can lead to the selection of leaders who are both popular and substantively qualified to lead the country.
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The idea of primaries is appealing but I'm not convinced it's a straightforward solution, for instance how would we prevent party members from being swayed by charismatic but unqualified candidates. We've seen this happen in other countries where the primary system has led to populist leaders being elected, which isn't always in the best interest of the country. Doesn't this risk prioritising showmanship over substance?
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Honestly, the idea of having endless public debates just
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