FPTP Flashcards
What is FPTP?
A simple plurality electoral system where the person with the highest number of votes is elected
Where is it used?
General and local elections in England and Wales
List it’s key features
1) small, single member constituencies
2) winner takes all based on plurality
3) voting is simple as you place an x next to your chosen candidate
4) voters get one vote for one candidate
What is the average adult population per constituency?
75,000
Griffith won for the conservatives with what percentage of the vote?
58
Crowley won for the SNP with what percentage of the vote?
42
How many MPs won by an absolute majority
319
How many MPs secured a seat with less than 40% of the vote
50
List the pros
1) simple as voters understand what they’re voting for
2) close constituency MP bond
3) keeps extremist parties out
4) produces a majority in the commons
5) traditional as it has been used throughout British history
List the cons
1) gives an advantage to parties with concentrated support
2) favours larger parties
3) winners bonus means that the winning party is overrepresented. The conservatives won 56% of seats with 43% of votes
4) failed to deliver a decisive majority in the three elections before 2019
What was the SNPs seat to vote ratio?
7.4% from 3.9%
What was the Line Dems seat to vote ratio?
1.7% from 11.5%
Where is conservative support concentrated?
The rural south
Where is Labour support concentrated?
Urban regions
List the votes per seat of the 4 major parties
SNP - 26,000
Conservatives - 38,000
Labour - 50,000
Lib Dems - 336,000
Green 866,000
Why does the winner have no interest in reform?
Because it had just secured them a victory
What is a safe seat?
One where the incumbent has a considerable majority over the closest candidate and is largely immune to swings in voting choice. The same political party retains the seat from election to election
How many seats were safe in 2019 according to the ERS
319
List the implications of safe seats
1) parties pay less attention so they receive less information
2) MPs are less accountable for their actions
3) votes are wasted regardless of whether you support the winning or losing party
4) Votes are not of equal value
5) ERS estimated that 70.8% of votes were not decisive and so effectively wasted
What is a minority seat
A seat where the incumbent has a small majority or plurality of the vote. It is generally agreed that they are seats where the result is in doubt and they change between parties frequently.
In how many seats did the winner win by less than 10%
141
What are the implications of marginal seats?
1) parties concentrate their efforts there so they receive much more attention and information
2) votes are more valuable and influential
3) individuals leaders matter more
4) many use tactical voting to block a party they dislike
Who supports FPTP
Conservatives and Labour, as it is currently working for them
Who opposes FPTP?
Pressure groups like the electoral reform society and unlock democracy. Even the SNP support reform, despite being major beneficiaries
List arguements in favour
1) easy to understand
2) produces clear results
3) result is known quickly
4) MP constituency bond
5) individual MPs can be easily held to account
6) produces a single party majority with a clear mandate
7) prevents extremist parties breaking in
8) abandoning it would be a dangerous risk that could bring unintended consequences
9) the 2011 AV referendum decisively rejected change
List arguements against
1) outcome is disproportionate
2) votes are effectively wasted in electoral deserts
4) votes for certain parties can be worth less, like UKIP in 2015
5) tactical voting can cause voters to abandon the party they support
6) prevents smaller parties breaking in so causes political inertia
7) the winning party hasn’t had a majority of votes since 1945. Conservatives won in 2015 despite 63.1% of voters not voting for them
8) failed to deliver a majority in 2010 and 2017
What is the main case for fptp being easier for voters to understand, and what is the main caveat to this argument?
The general election has a higher turnout than any other type of election. However, the fact that the general election is seen by many as being the most important should be taken into consideration
What is the only country that saw an increase in between 2015 and 2019, and what system does this country use?
Scotland, using their AMS
What was the average DV score for Westminster elections between 1997 and 2015 and what did this radically fall to in 2017?
22.5%, which fell to 9.3%
