3.3 electoral system analysis

Question 1

why are different electoral systems used in the UK?

Answer 1

• Under Tony Blair’s new labour government, new electoral systems were introduced because: after 18 years in opposition it wanted to prevent another conservative domination, the party pledge to modernise British democracy, they might have needed to join with Lib Dem
• in Scotland after devolution in 1997, there was a concern that the then-dominant Labour Party would dominate the country if FPTP was used. The change to AMS ensured that the main English parties could not dominate In the same way as Westminster. It was the AMS system that allowed the SNP rather than labour to become the dominant party
• STV was adopted in NI to reflect the fact that it Is a highly divided community and that all the different communities should be represented by a multi-party system
• In Wales AMS has worked to a degree, preventing absolute labour dominance

Question 2

what is the impact of the electoral system on government?

Answer 2

• the majority of voters do not get the government they voted for
• elections under FPTP have proved to be effective in producing single party governments with clear mandates and accountability
• however 3 consecutive elections, 2015,2010,2017 failed to produce a government with a decisive majority and twice with no single party majority at all
• if the country were to adopt proportional representation, the UK would have to get used to the idea of a multi-party government

Question 3

what is the impact of electoral systems on party systems?

Answer 3

• introducing proportional representation would be more likely to produce a multi party system
• currently FPTP favours a 2 party system with labour and conservative dominating

Question 4

what is the impact of electoral systems on voter choice?

Answer 4

• under FPTP, voters tend to be forced into voting either cons or labour, under a proportional system nearly every vote counts and every vote would be equal