Voting systems FPTP

Question 1

A for point on FPTP with evidence

Answer 1

For: Creates strong and stable government (define) - majority parties that maintain control over time. This occurs because it promotes a two party system.

Evidence: Strong - Under FPTP in the UK, last recorded coalition was 14 years ago (libdem tory in 2010) and there have been majorites ever since (with Boris’ 80 seat majority). Stable: Tories have been in power since 2010 as well - 14 years of consecutive rule.

Question 2

An against point for FPTP with evidence (1)

Answer 2

Against: 1 Small majority governments can also be created - not strong nor stable.

Evidence: 1 Theresa May suffered a large loss in history with a vote with a 230 majority against her Brexit deal even with a ‘majority’ - three Brexit deals got pushed back.

Question 3

An against point for FPTP with evidence (2)

Answer 3

Not perfectly representative

-May got 42% of the popular vote - not a majority and not representative of the population.

Question 4

An against point for FPTP with evidence (3)

Answer 4

(wasted votes) Safe seats, voters are discouraged as their votes mean nothing against ‘tyranny of the majority’

• henley since 1910. 4 May got 42% of vote - no majority. 5 11 lib dems voted in with 3.7 million, SNP got 1.2 million votes and 48 seats in HoC - also can be done for wasted votes.

Question 5

An against point for FPTP with evidence (4)

Answer 5

No majority required in the ballot box

May got 42% of vote - no majority. 5 11 lib dems voted in with 3.7 million, SNP got 1.2 million votes and 48 seats in HoC - also can be done for wasted votes.

Question 6

Clincher

Answer 6

While FPTP does promote strong and stable government, there are very evident issues with the current system such as (reference issues not already used) along with (reference issue used). Therefore, while FPTP does provide some positives, the negatives can be solved through an amendment of the current system.