Future of American space travel?

[Glom]

There's less opportunity for individual MPs to do pork barrel politics, but plenty of opportunities for the government itself. Since the government is made up of MPs, certain constituencies tend to benefit a bit. But also the marginal seats too.

A particularly egregious example was the Humber Bridge which then PM Harold Wilson got his government to sanction in order to win a by-election in an affected seat.

[Peter B]

There's less opportunity for individual MPs to do pork barrel politics, but plenty of opportunities for the government itself. Since the government is made up of MPs, certain constituencies tend to benefit a bit. But also the marginal seats too.

A particularly egregious example was the Humber Bridge which then PM Harold Wilson got his government to sanction in order to win a by-election in an affected seat.

You may remember the thread I started on the old board about the 2010 Australian federal election. In that, I mentioned that both major parties make most of their spending promises in marginal electorates. In many cases they're happy to not bother with spending much in their own safe electorates, because their opinion is that those seats are wrapped up anyway.

Most times this works, but every so often an independent takes a safe politician by surprise.