Electoral systems Flashcards
FPTP leads to strong single party governments
Clear and legitimate winner with a parliamentary majority
Mandate to fulfil its manifesto pledges
- 2019 election, leave EU
- 1997 election, devolution
Has paved the way for necessary constitutional reform
However, FPTP can still produce coalitions and minority governments
Fails on its strongest accolade
Parliament is with divided and not proportional
- 2010 coalition
- 2017 supply and demand deal with DUP
AMS would allow for proportionality in these elections
However, would occur all the time in PR system, and only happened because of Brexit issue
FPTP provides a clear choice and the 2 party system represents society
Labour and Conservatives have become more centrist miscue 1997
- Cameron’s ‘compassionate conservatism’
- Blair brought in New Labour
No other parties have had more votes than conservatives and labour
Majority of UK are represented, plurality system
- Higher turnout than AMS Scottish elections
However, FPTP leads to lack in voter choice and tactical voting
The only realistic choice is Conservatives or Labour
- 24% of candidates voted tactically
Increased number of safe seats from 21 in 2025 to 37 in 2017
However, there are no significant pushes for electoral reform and the rise in turnout shows people aren’t getting tired of the system
FPTP keeps extremist parties out
Extreme parties which only represent a small part of the UK can get in office
Supplementary vote in France allowed Marine LaPenne to gain credibility
Same with party list in Netherlands with Geert Wilders’ Freedom party
However, FPTP leads to large numbers of unrepresented voters and parties
It over represents the larger parties so artificial majorities are created
Exclusion of parties is not in keeping with free and fair elections
- 2015 UKIP only gained 1 seat from 4 million votes
- AMS in Scotland allowed Green Party to gain 8 seats
However, peripheral parties like UKIP still have influence
Number of seats won by conservatives in 2019
365
Majority of 80
Seats won by Labour in 1997
418
Majority of 167
2019 turnout
67%
2021 Scottish Parliament election turnout
63%
Largest ever
% of tactical voting in 2019 election
Electoral Reform Society campaign group found that 24% were voting tactically
Increase in number of safe seats 2015-17
21 to 35
Voting system in France
Supplementary vote
Voting system in Netherlands
Party list
Extremist party Netherlands
Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party
