Parties need more members

Submissions on the MMP review close on May 31st.

It is too late if you want to appear in person but you can still make a submission on-line or by post.

You can read those already made here.

A lot of them want a reduction in the 5% threshold which I oppose.

One of MMP’s weaknesses is instability of government’s and disproportionate power for wee parties, the risk of both would increase with a lower threshold.

I support an increased threshold although I’d be prepared to accept 5% if a party also held some electorate seats.

I would be less concerned about the status quo for the threshold if parties were required to have at least 2,000 members before they were registered and if membership was audited, at least until it was established the party had that number of members.

Any other organisation which had national influence would need a lot more than that number to survive and be taken seriously.