Electoral Systems- Electoral Reform Flashcards
Arguments in favour of retaining FPTP
tends to produce decisive results and strong and stable government
SV does not solve all of the problems of FPTP.
AMS often fails to give one party a decisive majority, unlike FPTP
STV can lead to confusion and gridlock
Arguments in favour of retaining FPTP
tends to produce decisive results and strong and stable government
FPTP tends to produce decisive results and strong and stable government. It also maintains a strong constituency link between MPs and voters.
Examples:
+ While the 2010 and 2017 general elections did not provide a decisive victory for one party, such results are rare.
+ The 2019 general election delivered an 80-seat majority for the Conservative Party, ending the
uncertainty around Brexit.
+ The constituency system ensures clear representation
for citizens.
Arguments in favour of retaining FPTP
SV does not solve all of the problems of FPTP.
SV does not solve all of the problems of FPTP.
Examples:
+ Minor parties still nave little chance of winning.
+ With one exception (Ken Livingstone in 2000), only Labour and Conservative candidates have ever gone through to the second round of counting in London mayoral elections.
+ Tactical voting is still an issue, just as under FPTP.
Arguments in favour of retaining FPTP
AMS often fails to give one party a decisive majority, unlike FPTP
AMS often fails to give one party a decisive majority, unlike
Examples:
+ The SNP is now running the government in Scotland, as a minority government — this means the party does not have a majority of seats.
+ Labour is running a minority government in wales — this means that it is the largest party but it still does not have over 50% of the seats so needs to get support from other parties to get measures through the Parliament.
Arguments in favour of retaining FPTP
STV can lead to confusion and gridlock
STV can lead to confusion and gridlock.
Example:
+ Between 2017 and 2020 in Northern Ireland, neither Sinn Fein nor the DUP was able to form a coalition or work together. The UK government therefore had to impose a budget on the province.
+ STV has broken the link between a single representative and their constituents, as STV involves creating large constituencies that have several representatives.
Arguments in favour of electoral reform
FPTP delivers disproportional results
SV wastes fewer votes
AMS allows smaller parties a chance to influence decision making
STV requires sharing of power
Arguments in favour of electoral reform
FPTP delivers disproportional results
Electoral reform is necessary because FPTP delivers disproportional results.
Examples:
+In 2015, roughly 5 million Green and UKIP voters were effectively disenfranchised, with their parties winning only one MP each.
+FPTP discriminates against parties whose vote is thinly spread throughout the country but rewards those parties whose vote is concentrated in enough places to win several seats.
+ Voters are therefore forced to vote tactically.
+ Many votes are wasted, particularly in ‘safe seats’.
+ UK general elections produce governments that do not enjoy the support of a majority of the electorate. In 2005, 2010 and 2015, the winning party failed to achieve
40% of the popular vote.
Arguments in favour of electoral reform
SV wastes fewer votes
SV wastes fewer votes.
Examples:
+ Many Green Party voters chose Labour candidate Sadiq Khan as their second preference in the 2016 London mayoral election. This support proved decisive in Khan’s eventual victory after the second round of counting. Green Party voters knew that their second preference vote might count even if their first one didn’t.
+ SV tends to ensure that the ‘least hated’ candidate wins because it seeks to propel the winning candidate as close to 50% of the vote as possible.
Arguments in favour of electoral reform
AMS allows smaller parties a chance to influence decision making
AMS allows smaller parties a chance to influence decision making.
Examples:
+ The Liberal Democrats have frequently participated in government in both Scotland and Wales.
+ Coalitions have been relatively stable — all have thus far
lasted the full term.
+ AMS retains the constituency link, since two-thirds of seats are allocated using FPTP.
Arguments in favour of electoral reform
STV requires the sharing of power
STV requires the sharing of power between different parties, therefore resulting in ‘grown-up’ politics.
Example:
+ It is perhaps the model for a country that is divided over Brexit and where there are a number of nations and regions attempting to retain their identity.
+ Having large constituencies with a number of representatives means that the whole community is better served. A Labour MP, for example, might take up different issues in the constituency from a Conservative.
+ Voters have a wide choice of candidates to choose
from.
