Elections Flashcards
Example of FPTP creating strong gov
In. 2001 labour won only 35% f the vote but still a majority to govern w out need for coalition and the negotiations that comes with them .
2019 cons won 43 % of vote 56% of seats 100% power rarely ever over 50% win by party since 1950
Germany AFD held 80 seats far right group so maybe good thing extreme parties held down .brut gov or electoral commission can raise voter threshold to ensure fringe sorties can’t make it to house. 3 groups in charge coalition
.
Eg Czech rep it’s 5%. Also in Czech Republic 5 parties gov so weak gov rare to have electoral majority
Examples of failed mp lobbying
Zak goldsmith failed to lobby the gov into cancelling Heathrow expansion as it would negatively affect his constituents in Richmond park. Previously minister of state for environment food and rural affairs cared abt environment. He ran for London major too prominent cons.
Example of weak governing under coalitions
2013 consecutive party lost a vote in commons against action in Syria as Lib Dem’s partially paired up w oppositions to defeat motion.
285 to 272
Examples of safe seats for parties
Labour : Tottenham , Hackney north and Stoke Newington and Islington north. Most of inner London am electoral desert for labour red wall.
But not concrete as 2019 red wall fell in midlands and north England.
Cons safe seats: Chelsea and Fulham , Cheshire , Buckingham shire hispticslly affluent areas.
Lib Dem’s Westmorland and Lonsdale.
Example of disproportional seats for smaller parties
2019 lobs won 11.6% votes 11 seats
Greens 3% votes 2019 and 1 seat rather than the. 20 they should have got if they won 3% of seats in house.
UKIP 13% of popular vote in 2015 no seats
2010 labs won 258 seats w 29% of vote but libs won 23% got 57 seats
How does ams work
Uses d’hondt formula to calculate the number of regional seats won by each party based on constituency seats. Less regional seats w this formula means divided amongst larger population. But at constituency level system uses fptp to elect MSP most msp 73/129 are constituency msp.
Still downside of fptp at constituency level for 73 Msps.
Doesn’t lead to more voters as Scotland uses a,s and in 2021 local elections 63.5% turnout and uk general election 69% turnout so similar.
Examples of time Fptp allowed the winner to in with fewer votes
1974 and 1951
Other downsides of Fptp
Majority too stong like Blair elective dictatorship 8 yrs no commons defeats
And majority isn’t always achieved like Wilson 1074 and may 2017
Majority isn’t always stable Tory parry2022-24
Greens 2.4% vote 0.2% seats 209
13 parties in westminiate tho
Are marginal seats growing name 2 new ones
Bedford Kensington
Yes they r
How many AMS VOTES SPOILED
140k in 2007
