fptp most effective electoral system

Question 1

paragraph 1: isn’t most effective as unrepresentative

Answer 1

-2024 election lab won 63% of seats only 33.7% vote
-2024 reform UK received 14.3% vote and 0.8% seats
-Make votes matter calculated that if 2024 election used STV lab would have received 264 seats reform 71
-AMS more proportional 1999 scot parl elections con party won 0 constituency MPs despite 15.6% vote but won 18 additional member seats, 14% seats overall

Question 2

parageaph 2: is most effective as produces strong single party govs

Answer 2

-AMS STV usually lead to coalition or minority govs
- MP constituency link strong under FPTP
- Dec 5th 2023 22 con mps supported lab amendment aimed at speeding up compensation for victims of infected blood scandal, rebelled against 3 line con whip to do so
-Caroline Nokes rebelled to represent local interest in Romsey and Southampton North constituency

Question 3

paragraph 3: isn’t most effective as limits voter choice

Answer 3

-voters only get one vote, tactical voting
-Make Votes Matter reported that 2024 1/5 voters intended to vote tactically 58% ended up w MP they didn’t vote for
-votes in small constituencies count for more, safe and marginal seats
-Manchester Rushholme lab won 2024 on 51.9% vote turnout 40%
— Thanet South kent won by winning party every year since its creation
— voter choice higher under AMS as 2 votes 2021 scot parl greens won 1.29% constituency votes but 8.12% top up votes

Question 4

paragraph 4: fptp is more effective as easy to use and results known early

Answer 4

-2024 sunderland south winner announced 23:15 election day
-starmer arrive at downing street at 12:40pm next day as PM
-2011 AV ref 68% voted against changing electoral system on 42% turnout
-AMS STV lead to donkey voting, 2019 NI local elections candidates running from same party one who can first alphabetically elected 85% of the time, second only 54% time
-2024 Senned voted to change to closed party list system by 2026

Question 5

paragraph 5: fptp produces strong single party govs with strong mandates

Answer 5

— 1997 mandate gave Blair power to carry out constitutional reforms, 1980s Thatcher able to carry out widespread economic reform
—2024 Starmers lab party won 174 seat majority on 33.7% vote but no public questioning of mandate
— breakdown of SNP Green coalition april 2024, greens supported no confidence motion against Youssaf
— NI assembly suspended for 2 years following 2022 NI assembly elections
—2022 scottish elections 94% councils had no overall control

Question 6

paragraph 6: isn’t most effective as FPTP has led to some weak govs

Answer 6

—2010 lib dem con coalition
—2017 con and DUP confidence and supply agreement
— often lack public support so can’t grant legitimacy to strong governments
— compromise in coalition seen as advantage as leads to more considered representative policies