Potential Impacts Of PR

Question 1

Greater proportionality

Answer 1

~ The big parties would lose representation

~ In 2015, the conservatives would have won 75 fewer seats

Question 2

Increase in representation of smaller parties

Answer 2

~ UKIP would have won 83 MPs had the 2015 General Election used PR

~ Demise of tactical voting as people’s votes would actually count

~ Possible emergence of a multi party system

Question 3

More coalition governments

Answer 3

~ Unlikely any one party will win 50% of the vote

~ If the 2015 General Election was contested using PR, they would have been around 96 MPs away from a majority

~ A majoritarian system such as SV or AV would have the adverse effect, as it is unlikely smaller parties would be able to win 50% of the vote

Question 4

Minority governments

Answer 4

~ If coalitions prove hard to foster, the largest party may start a minority government

~ This happened in Wales following the 2003 and 2011 elections where they use AMS

Question 5

More frequent elections

Answer 5

~ Some argue that coalition governments are much more unstable which can lead to early elections being called

~ Not always the case, as Scottish parliaments and the 2010 coalition showed

Question 6

Potential splits in parties

Answer 6

~ With smaller parties standing a better chance, old and new order conservatives could split

~ Old and New Labour could separate

Question 7

Weakened link with constituency

Answer 7

~ Party List and STV provide multiple representatives for each constituency

~ Not an issue with AV and SV however

Question 8

Turnouts and participation

Answer 8

~ Increase as people feel their vote counts for something

~ Abolition of safe seats

~ In 2015, the turnout was 66.1%, compared to 85.81% in Sweden in 2014