Electoral Systems

Question 1

What electoral systems do the 4 nations in the UK use? As well as Police & crime commissioners and Mayoral?

Answer 1

• Wales: FPTP
• England: FPTP
• Scotland: STV
• Northern Ireland: STV
• Mayoral: SV
• Police & Crime commissioners: SV

Question 2

What are 5 strengths of FPTP?

Answer 2

• Easy to operate and understand
• Produces strong and stable governments (majority)
• Accountable as public knows who is in charge and who should be held responsible
• Moderate representation with mainstream views
• Popular with voters (AV referendum - turnout 42%)

Question 3

What are 5 weaknesses of FPTP?

Answer 3

• Not proportional e.g Reform UK got over 3 mil voted and 5 seats 2024 election
• Elective Dictatorship, can do what it wants for 5 years
• Marginal and safe seats e.g Midland, safe seats e.g County Durham get neglected
• The wrong winner 1951 Churchill vs Wilson
• Maintains a two party system

Question 4

What are 5 strengths of PR?

Answer 4

• More representative
• creates coalition governments (less party politics)
• minority parties are more represented
• Every vote counts
• Creates less swings to the left and to the right

Question 5

What are / weaknesses of PR?

Answer 5

• Coalition governments prone to collapse e.g Barnier’s coalition in France collapsed after a vote of no confidence in 2024
• Governments less accountable (who is running the country again?)
• Small parties can have disproportional power in coalitions
• Extremist parties can be included in the government

Question 6

Has electoral reform been successful?

Answer 6

Yes:
- works in Scotland and Northern Ireland
- There was a referendum given to the people
- UK arguably has a more multi party system due to devolved nations parties being more prominent SNP
- reduced wasted votes
NO:
- Westminster has remained unreformed
- Referendum question was wrong (nobody wants AV) and turnout was only 42%
- EVEL
- Two party system still