They should have voted for Ashdown as PM- far more convincing than Major, Blair, Kinnock etc

Simon, London, UK

Most of them are a load of rubbish. They all make promises which none of us believe and every five years we have to vote for something or somebody and they all make a balls up of whatever they do.
The only important thing for a political party is to be in power then keep it by fair means or foul

Phil de Buquet, Newport,

Will (London), from 1945 to 1964 is 19 years. The Tories were in power for 13 of them.

Ken Leyland, Liverpool, U.K.

I agree with Danny's friend except that I would say that, given time, the voters always make a sensible decision. Tactical cock-ups in 1992 frightened the voters and they sensibly switched to the Tories. By September they had realised their mistake and steadily polled their intentions for 1997.

Rupert Butler, AXMINSTER, UK

With the benefit of hindsight, Kinnock winning in '92 could have been a good thing. Sure, it would have been unpleasant at the time, but the pro-euro cabal leading the Tories would have been finished & a returning Tory goverment in '97 may have pledged to repeal Maastricht & even leave the EU.

George Miller, Basingstoke, UK

The "Kinnock Test"? What kind of test is it to which no-one knows, or can know , the answer?
And when did John Major ever say anything worth repeating? He, don't forget, privatised the railways. Did we really get it right electing him to do that? Sorry Danny, could do better.

Ken Leyland, Liverpool, U.K.

No, you've lost me there, Daniel. What's the importance of the retention of the comma?

John, Shipley, W Yorkshire

Two major improvements in the UK system would be: 1) elections every 4 years to a set timetable; the election date being set at the whim of the Prime Minister is quite ridiculous. 2) More use of the referendum on issues of major importance, such as the European "constitution".

Rod Garr, Miami, USA

The stupidity of the public voting the present shower in repeatedly, You have to blame the opposition for not putting up a credible alternative. Thatcher's policies made our society the way it is - both the good & the bad, Good stewardship could have smoothed out the bad instead we got Tony & Co.

am, letchworth,

Was it really sensible for an exhausted Britain in 1945 to put statist labour in?

Roger Pearse, Ipswich,

The election that gave the wrong result was the 1983 election. If Thatcher had been sent packing then the Tories might have been forced to dump their divisive policies, as they are doing now, and elect a less ideologically driven Leader. North Sea Oil money could have given us modernisation.

A Clark, Basing, england

I agree with John from Thailand and Janet from Sydney.

For the same reason, part of me rejoices with every imbecile decision from the present ship of fools.

Steve, Cambridge,

I reckon we should have a maximum of four years between elections, as in the US. Five is too long, as we're seeing now.

Barry, Wallington, UK

Neil Kinnock was the best PM we did not have and Tony Blair was the best tory party leader they did not have.

Paul Gibbons, Milton Keynes, UK

Didn't the voters get it wrong in 1945?

You can trace britains slow growth (compared to other countries who took part in the war) between 45 and the 60s to the high taxes levied for the welfare state. You can also trace most of the nationalised industries and all the problems associated to 1945.

Will, London,

Electing Blair-Brown in 1997 was a disaster that this country may never recover from fully. Except that he was a staging post from Foot to Blair, Kinnoch was a complete irrelevance.

Adrian Gilbert, Tonbridge,

The voter doesn't chose the government, the fruit machine electoral system does. In 1929 a new deal Lloyd George would have been better, not having the apppeasement tories in the 1930's would have been better, Thatcher was much pain, little gain. Electroal reform in any year would have been better

Tom, Aldershot, UK

John from Thailand took the words right out of my mouth!

Janet Davis, Sydney, Australia

If the electorate always get it right, let's have more of it. A referendum once a year on key issues; hanging, the EU, the House of Lords, MP's pay, war-mongering, dissolution of the UK .......

Richard Black, Gateshead,

I don't see how the voters made the right choice in 1945. The Conservatives were certainly able to govern and in Churchill they had a leader who was universally respected. The 1945 election saddled this country with socialism, ensuring Britain's relative decline until Thatcher's victory in 1979.

Robert Thompson, Richmond, Surrey.,

At the next election, with or without Mr Brown and regardless of a deteriorating economy, the "Let's give the other lot a go" theme will win the day. Wonderous!

William Grierson, Kimpton, UK

That's why successive Governments have refused to let us vote on EU Treaties, including the latest Lisbon ConTreaty. They thought we'd get the answer right! This isn't a democracy: it's a Parliamentary dictatorship & all the major parties have basically the same view on membership of the EUSSR.

Donna Walker, Effingham, England

The mere phrase "the voter gets ir right" betrays a fundamental and near universal (amongst politicians) misapprehension about politics.

It is NOT the voters' job to represent the politicians. It is the politicians' job to represent the voters' values and priorities. In the UK, none even try.

Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK

Surely, by definition, in a democracy the voters get it right every time. Hard to believe but we must or some nanny body (Finklestein will be there) will appoint the 'right' gang.

Dr j Findlater, Carnforth,

I wish Kinnock had won in 1992 - we would have had a one term disaster, instead of the gradual wrecking of a three term Labour Government. We are now back to square one in terms of the economy and the country has been carved up and overrun.

Richard, Worcester, England

The best outcome in 1992 would have been for Kinnock to have won. His government would have been so dire that it would have been kicked out after one term in 1997. We would then have have been spared the whole shambles New Labour has visited upon the country since then.

John, Bangkok, Thailand

Political parties lose elections to the one elected, they do not win them.

B J Deller, Marbella, Spain

Frances@glasgow: Yes, Kinnock was rubbish. Not an original idea in his head.

John, Shipley, W Yorkshire

Edward Heath a gutless nonentity who had so little faith in himself and the British people he gave the e.e.c huge swathes of the British economy without them even asking for it,

Enough said

ANDREW MILLS, stainforth , U.K.

"Do you, on reflection, think it would have been a good idea for the country if Neil Kinnock had been elected Prime Minister in 1992?"

Answer - yes. It didn't require much reflection. And am I really supposed to be impressed that a few uber-Blairites agree with a Tory that Kinnock was rubbish?

Frances, Glasgow,

I voted Conservative at the last 3 elections but did so knowing Labour would win. Had I thought that in 92 I would have left the country.

The elections of 70 and 74 paved the way for Thatcher. For that the country needed an unholy mess. The electorate got it right even if many won't admit it.

Paul Owen, Birmingham, UK

If we are so good at it (democracy, making the right choice etc.) then give us more of it!!!!!!

Electing a Parliament every now and again is insufficient these days particularly now that Local Government is entirely neutered.

More Democracy Please!

Simon Bannister, Brighton, England