GOOSE AND GANDER..

I was interested to hear yesterday of the prospect of HM Gov. tightening up the law on trade union ballots.   There`s a lot of fuss in high society about the dark threats coming out of some union bosses that strikes might be called to coincide with the Royal Wedding in April this year and the Olympics next year.   And we really can`t have that, can we?

So, David Cameron says he will look at the arguments for amending the law so that a strike can only be held provided at least half of those union members eligible to vote in the strike ballot have, in fact, done so.   That way, it`s claimed, we will have a truly democratic decision which we can all respect and I have to say that I agree with the principle of what`s being said.

But on the basis of what`s good for the goose is also good for the gander, I wonder whether that same principle will be applied to all forms of voting procedures, so that, for example, a Member of Parliament can only take his or her seat in the Commons provided that at least half of the constituency electorate has actually voted in the election.

Somehow I doubt it.