First past the post

Question 1

Features of FPTP

Answer 1

1. two party system as voters are discouraged from voting for smaller parties
2. Winners bonus due to a distorted amount of votes
3. Bias towards major parties as smaller parties tend to have more supersede support
4. Smaller parties lose out as larger parties have larger and more concentrated support
5. Single party government as it promotes a 2 party system

Question 2

How the recall of MPs act is effected due to FPTP ?

Answer 2

Safe seat MPs are less likely to be held accountable due to a petition of 10% of constituents being unlikely to be signed eg in 2018 Ian Paisley was only suspended fro 30 days after accepting a free holiday

Question 3

Advantages of FPTP in terms of turnout

Answer 3

• Higher turnouts than other systems eg 2019 turnout = 67% compared to 46% for AMS in 2021

Question 4

Disadvantage of FPTP in terms of small parties :

Answer 4

• It prevents new parties from breaking in to the political system and produces political inertia (smaller parties and issue parties fail to gain influence or success)

Question 5

Example of a winners bonus

Answer 5

• There is a winners bonus eg 2015 the Conservatives won 36.9% of votes and 50% of seats

Question 6

Example of why FPTP means the winner lacks legitimacy :

Answer 6

• Since 1950, the winning party has always had less than 50% of the vote suggesting they lack legitimacy

Question 7

What was the disparity between Labour’s seats and vote share in 2005 :

Answer 7

• 2005 Labour won a majority of 66 seats with only 35% of the vote

Question 8

What is the issue regarding safe seats and how many were there in 2015 ?

Answer 8

• The system produces safe seats eg 2015 there were 368 safe seats in which the results depended on (receive less info, less accountable and votes not of equal value)

Question 9

What is the issue regarding marginal seats in 2015 ?

Answer 9

• 194 in 2015
• Parties tend to concentrate their efforts in marginal seats so voters receive more attention + info
• Votes here are more valuable than in safe seats and voters feel they have more influence

Question 10

What is the disparity between seats and votes for the Lib Dems in 1992 and 1997 ?

Answer 10

• 1992 LD won 18 seats with 18% of the vote and in 1997 they won 46 seats and 17% of the vote

Question 11

How did the 1983 general election votes show that the system produces distorted results ?

Answer 11

• 1983 General election (SDP/Liberal alliance won 23 seats with 25% of the vote compared to labour who won 209 seats with 28% of the vote)

Question 12

How many votes do Green need for a seat compared to the Conservative party ?

Answer 12

There is a huge disparity on the average no. of votes a party need to win a seat eg green need 520,000 whereas the conservative party needs only 42,000

Question 13

Timing advantage of FPTP :

Answer 13

• It is a simple system with quick results eg Sunderland often declare it around 11pm on election night compared to STV which can take weeks to calculate

Question 14

Evidence that FPTP produces strong governments + evidence it fails to do so :

Answer 14

• It has stood the test of time and produced strong and decisive governments eg Johnson’s government under COVID + Margret Thatcher etc
• 2010, 2015 and 2017 : FPTP has failed to produce a decisive government majority suggesting this characteristic could be changing

Question 15

AV referendum

Answer 15

• 2011
• Turnout was only 42%
• 62% voted no suggesting there is a clear consensus that reform isn’t wanted

Question 16

Geographical advantage of FPTP and disadvantage :

Answer 16

• Each constituency is geographically represented and the fact that there is a single MP means there is more accountability and it allows a closer bond to form
• In General elections England on average has 72,000 people to an MP but in Wales it is 56,000 suggesting there is unequal representation

Question 17

Social disadvantage of FPTP

Answer 17

• Minority groups and women are less likely to be represented due to only having one representative per around 72,000

Question 18

How FPTP prevents extremist parties :

Answer 18

• The system helps prevent any extremist parties eg 2010 BNP was the fifth most voted party yet won no seats and 2015 UKIP won 12.6% of the votes yet only 1 seat

Question 19

2001 General election turnout ?

Answer 19

• 59%