first past the post

Question 1

what type of system is FPTP?

Answer 1

plurality system

Question 2

how to winin FPTP?

Answer 2

get the highest number of votes, doesn’t need to be a majority

Question 3

what is a safe seat?

Answer 3

a constituency typically housing people likely to all vote for same party - seat rarely changes hands.

Question 4

examples of labour safe seats

Answer 4

Liverpool, Walton - since 1964,Bootle

Question 5

Conservative safe seats examples

Answer 5

Maidenhead - sine 1874 (NOT 2024 ONWARDS)
Bootle - Lab since 1945

Question 6

problems with safe seats

Answer 6

• limited voter impact
• members feel disenfranchised and unrepresented
• MPs less engaged with communities

Question 7

Geoffrey Cox example of a problem with safe seats

Answer 7

when MP for his constituency of Torridge and West Devon, won with a 25,000 majority and criticized for having second job in British Virgin islands - earned 6 million pounds from 2019-2021

Question 8

recent swings in elections

Answer 8

North Shropshire - 34% swing to LD from Tories after Paterson Randox scandal
Chesham and Amersham - 25% LD from Tory

Question 9

advantages of FPTP

Answer 9

• stability from 2 party system - less likely for coalitions, less uncertainty and stronger mandate
• strong MP-constituent link - clear accountability
• Keeping Uk politics to center - hard fro extremist groups to have power

Question 10

why are coalitions unfavorable?

Answer 10

• they take time to negotiate - Germany took 2 months to negotiate agreement for coalition using PR system
• coalitions means it is harder to pass laws as parties have different manifestos

Question 11

Consitituency - Mp link

Answer 11

• weekly ‘surgeries’ - meetings where MPs can talk to constituents nd discuss problems - redress of grievances in commons

Question 12

example of MP-constituency link

Answer 12

MP Zac Goldsmith Tory MP for Richmond Park rebelled against 3 line whip to vote against Heathrow expansion

Question 13

fees difference from safe seat to marginal seat

Answer 13

2010 election - 22 times more money spent on Luton South - marginal - than Bootle

Question 14

most marginal seats

Answer 14

Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Bury North

Question 15

2024 FPTP stats

Answer 15

one of the most disproportionate results in recent history
Labour - In the 2019 GE, Labour won 32.1% of the vote and won 202 seats- seen as a huge loss, Corbyn resigned as leader. In the 2024 GE, Labour won 33.7% of the vote and won 411 seats- a huge majority!
Reform UK: won 14% of the popular vote, but only 5 seats. By contrast, the Liberal Democrats’ 12% vote share translated into 72 seats. This is clearly not proportional and shows how the system relies on geographically concentrated support, which tends to disadvantage smaller parties as they have dispersed support.

Question 16

2024 labour vs 2019 labour

Answer 16

In the 2019 GE, Labour won 32.1% of the vote and won 202 seats- seen as a huge loss, Corbyn resigned as leader. In the 2024 GE, Labour won 33.7% of the vote and won 411 seats- a huge majority!

Question 17

reform and LD 2024 vs and seats

Answer 17

Reform UK: won 14% of the popular vote, but only 5 seats. By contrast, the Liberal Democrats’ 12% vote share translated into 72 seats. This is clearly not proportional and shows how the system relies on geographically concentrated support, which tends to disadvantage smaller parties as they have dispersed support.

Question 18

labour 2024 seats to vote ratio

Answer 18

34% : 63%