If you give your people a vote to decide their Government, they expect it to count, If you tell the world you are holding democratic elections, then you have to accept the results. 

The lesson over the past week (and sadly repeated time and time again) is that democracy and fair votes is a serious business. It is to be protected, nurtured, developed. Not undermined, tampered with and discarded at will. It is not a showcase PR event for 24 hour news.

If you ask the question you have to be prepared for an answer you don’t like!

So whether it’s the Irish referendum on the Lisbon treaty, Irans elections or for that matter Gordon Browns reform of our democracy and voting reforms, politicians should remember democracy has the words “Fragile, handle with care” stamped all over it.