In the UK their "free schools" (charter schools/'partnership schools') are always looking to Sweden as their "utopia" according to their Conservative govt.
But as Sweden's international test scores plummet, it's not looking so good now:
Guardian
BBC
Given these systems failure elsewhere, why do they keep getting stuffed down our throats?
This just seems like the latest disaster. As you say Russell, how much would kiwiblog etc be loving to go after these schools/teachers if they hadn't helped force them on us..?

I'm sorry, that's just wrong.

UK Labour started a 1/3:1/3:1/3 caucus:members:affiliates voting at the start of the 80s.
Tony Blair and a number before him were elected under that system.
Until Milliband (Ed) beat Milliband (David) in 2010 all 3 parts of the electoral college voted the same way.
There Ed beat David in much the same way as Andrew beat Grant (but the margins on all 3 parts were smaller). And Ed is getting the "there because of the unions" gumph.

Of course, if a leader does well, no-one will care how he was elected.

That's not quite true Andrew.

The *elected* executive of the union consult with members and then make a recommendation.

Then the elected delegates of the Union Conference consult with their members locally and cast their votes taking all that into consideration.

It may not be one member, one vote - rather union solidarity - But it's not some unelected executive providing a bloc of votes either.