(3) Which electoral system is best?

What factors have influenced arguments for and against electoral reform?
1. The factors that influenced the for argument
  1. Lib Dem's revived support for electoral reform - although more people voted for them, they were unable to make an electoral breakthrough because of the biases implicit in the FPTP
    1. Alliance in 1983 one quarter of the votes but won only 23 seats?
  2. More and more of the Labour Party were converted to the cause of PR. This occurred for two reasons:
    1. Lost 4 GE between 1979 to 1992, some Labour members had started to doubt if the party could win any more under FPTP
    2. Labour anticipated returning to power probably as a member of a coalition government with Lib Dem's, and that would only be possible if they reached an agreement on electoral reform
  3. Growing sympathy toward selectoral reformwas evident in two ways
    1. Labour agreed that the devolved assemblies would use PR
    2. Labour would set up an Independent Commission on the Westminster voting system. Aim was to find an alternative to FPTP and then put it to a referendum
      1. The commision proposed "AV plus" however the referendum was never held
2. The factors that influenced the against argument
  1. Labour Party support for PR declined significantly once the 1997 election proved that Labour could still win, and indeed win handsomely, under FPTP rules
  2. Parties positions on electoral reform have always been closely linked to calculations about political advantage
    1. The Conservatives Party, has consistently opposed plans to reform an FPTP
    2. The Labour party supported reform until 1945, when the party formed it's first majority government - the interest only surfaced when in prolonged opposition
  3. The fear with electoral reform is the possibility of a "hung Parliament" - in which a three party holed the power
What changes to the electoral system have been recently proposed?
1. The key aspect of the deal between the Conservatives and the Lib Dem's was an agreement to hold a referendum on the introduction of AV for Westminster elections
  1. This was a compromise between the Lib Dem's preference for the STV system, and Conservative support for the retention of FPTP
What are the arguments for/against the introduction of AV?
1. For
  1. Involve the simplest change, requiring no alteration to the established constituency structure
  2. Maintain a firm link between an MP and his or her constituency
  3. Possibility of strong and stable government, achieved through the existence of a single majority party
    1. Whilst at the same time increasing voter choice and ensuring that MPs enjoy at least 50% support in constituency
2. Against
  1. It creates little prospect of greater proportionality, and may even result in less proportional outcomes
  2. The Conservatives could accept AV on the grounds that the Westminster election system would remain clearly majoritarian
Reform Westminster elections
1. For
  1. Electoral fairness
    1. Fairness dictates that a party's strength in parliament should reflect it's level of support in the country.
    2. Proportionality underpins the basic democratic principles of political equality
    3. In PR, all peoples' votes have the same value, regardless of party they support
  2. All votes count
    1. In PR, no votes, or fewer votes, are "wasted", in the sense that they are cast for candidates or parties who lose the election, or are surplus to the needs of winning candidates or parties.
    2. This should strength turnout and promote civil engagement
  3. Majority government
    1. Governments elected under PR will enjoy the support of at least 50% of those who vote.
    2. These will be genuinely popular, broad-based governments.
    3. By contrast, FPTP results in plurality rule.
    4. Parliamentary majorities can be gained with as little as 35% of the vote, as occurred in 2005
  4. Accountable government
    1. PR has implications for the relationship between the executive had parliament
    2. FPTP leads to executive domination because a single party has control of the Commons
    3. Under PR, governments have to listen to Parliament as they will generally need the support of two or more parties
  5. Consensus political culture
    1. PR electoral systems distribute political power more widely
    2. As a wider range of parties are involved in the formulation of policy, decision-making becomes a process of consultation, negotiation and compromise.
    3. "Partnership politics" therefore replaces "yaa-boo politics"
2. Against
  1. Clear electoral choice
    1. FPTP aids democracy because it clarifies the choices available to voters
    2. It offers voters a clear and simple choice between potential parties of government, each committed to a different policy or ideological agenda
    3. This makes elections and politics more meaningful to ordinary citizens
  2. Constituency representation
    1. FPTP establishes a strong and reliable link between a representative and his or her constituency
    2. When a single MP serves a single constituency, people know who represents their interests and who should take up their grievances
  3. Mandate democracy
    1. In FPTP, voters get what they vote for
      1. Winning parties have the ability to carry out their manifesto promises.
    2. The doctrine of the mandate can therefore only operate in systems that produce single-party governments
    3. Under PR, policies are decided through post-election deals not endorsed by the electorate
  4. Strong government
    1. FPTP helps to ensure that governments can govern
    2. This happens because the government of the day enjoys majority control of the Commons
    3. Coalition governments, by contrast, are weak and ineffective because they have to seek legislative support form two or more parties
  5. Stable government
    1. Single-party governments are stable and cohesive, and so are generally able to survive for a full term in office
    2. This is because the government is united by common ideological loyalties and is subject to the same party disciplines
    3. Coalition governments, by contrast, are often weak and unstable

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(3) Which electoral system is best?

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