Daniel Hannan, writing on ConservativeHome, is now pleading for the introduction of proportional representation.

In his article he writes that his preferred voting system is the Single Transferable Vote (STV) because: It encourages candidates to campaign as individuals, as local champions, rather than as representatives of their parties. It thus has the incidental effect of strengthening backbenchers against Whips, and the legislature against the executive.

Hannan then continues that in Ireland, STV is popular with almost everyone except (in private) politicians; and then relates a conversation he had with a Fine Gael friend of his who informed him that: Instead of acting in the national interest, I have to do what my constituents want; to which Hannan replied: That’s the whole bloody idea, it’s called democracy.

Where to begin with this load of rubbish? While the system of representative democracy continues wherein the Executive is drawn from the Legislature, encapsulating the ‘careerism’ contained therein; while Members of Parliament are subjected to Whip’s pressure to follow their party line, there can be no hint of democracy per se.

Hannan has obviously joined the club in which there is a belief that ‘tweaking the system’ will solve all the ills that exist within our present electoral system. He only need look at the devolution policies that are currently being proposed and followed to surely realise that he too is digging a pit for himself.

One can only suggest to Daniel Hannan that he follows the advice of Norman Tebbit – and takes up cycyling.