Matt Kennard speaks as the second proposition for the motion in the Debating Chamber on Thursday 24th October 2024.
In the wake of the 2024 general election, with Labour gaining 412 of 650 seats with 33.7% of the vote, calls for reforming Britain’s first-past-the-post system have continued to increase.
As concerns about disenfranchised voters and communities and voter ID are hotly debated, this debate seeks to examine the nature and success of British democracy.
Cambridge Union Society Debate Info:
In The Chair: Alessio D’Angelo
Taking the Minutes: Leonas Pausch
- The Debate Motion title is always preceded in context by the phrase “This House Would”, “This Would Believes”, or simply “This House”.
- The Debate motion is typically phrased in Proposition of the argument prior to any votes or speeches, regardless of controversial nature.
- Six 10 minute speeches are given, alternating between each Proposition & Opposition speaker of the Debate Motion.
- The Chair governs authority over interjections, time limits, and any discretions/arrangements agreed between speakers and/or CUS.
- There are two ways interjections can be made by audience members; a Point of Information (upon acceptance from the speaker) or a Floor Speech. (Interjections are not to be interpreted as Audience Questions and can be denied or ignored at discretion of the Speaker or Chair)
- Points of Interest cannot be made during the first & last minutes of any speech, they also must be under 30 seconds and maintain relevance.
(As a result it is impractical to provide microphones for Points of Interest and apologise for any issues with audibility)
- Floor speeches are made by audience members at intervals during the Debate discussing support for Proposition, Opposition or Abstention.
(The Union rarely publishes Floor Speeches due to Release Form arrangements within membership contracts)
- At the end of the Debate, all Speakers and audience members cast their vote as they leave the Debating Chamber through doors labelled “AYES” & “NOES”, with the central door exit representing Abstentions.
- The Chair calls an announcement shortly after the Debate to confirm the votes.
Results:
Ayes - 92
Abstain - 41
Noes - 175
Full Debate:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYpyB-7KwFc65-jqUhEZPI4OlqC1XduvS
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Thumbnail Photographer: Nordin Catic
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MATT KENNARD
Matt Kennard is co-founder and head of investigations at Declassified UK, a news outlet investigating British foreign policy. He was a fellow and then director at the Centre for Investigative Journalism in London and has worked as a staff writer for the Financial Times internationally.
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