Unrepresentative Results In The Uk Essay
3. “The UK electoral system produces unrepresentative results and should switch to a form of proportional representation. Discuss.”
At the moment, the UK electoral system uses FPTP, or First Past the Post. This electoral system has been in place since 1882, but it is true that it provides unrepresentative results. For example, in the 2010 General Election, the Liberal Democrats got 23% of the vote, with over 6,000,000 votes, yet they only got 57 seats, which is only 9% of a say of what goes on in parliament. This system is unrepresentative, and so needs to change.
Proportional representation is a system where the number of votes given to each party in total reflects in the total number of seats that are held in the House of Commons by the separate parties. For example, if the Conservatives get 35% of …show more content…
Firstly, PR can produce unstable governments. Take Italy for example, who see constant coalitions being made with no party ever being able to achieve an absolute majority. This means that many political deals have to made between parties, opening the doors to corruption and bribery. Countries like Germany have coped with this slightly better, showing a good record of managing coalition governments. Still, this shows one of the main advantages of the FPTP system – that a majority government can be achieved and therefore legislation can much more easily be passed through the chambers.
FPTP is also a system which we have had in place since 1882, so why change it now? It has produced entirely majority governments since its foundation (apart from a few hung parliaments), and has maintained its status as one of the leading world electoral systems. It may not be proportional necessarily, but the party with the most votes does tend to get the most seats, which does show an element of
At the moment, the UK electoral system uses FPTP, or First Past the Post. This electoral system has been in place since 1882, but it is true that it provides unrepresentative results. For example, in the 2010 General Election, the Liberal Democrats got 23% of the vote, with over 6,000,000 votes, yet they only got 57 seats, which is only 9% of a say of what goes on in parliament. This system is unrepresentative, and so needs to change.
Proportional representation is a system where the number of votes given to each party in total reflects in the total number of seats that are held in the House of Commons by the separate parties. For example, if the Conservatives get 35% of …show more content…
Firstly, PR can produce unstable governments. Take Italy for example, who see constant coalitions being made with no party ever being able to achieve an absolute majority. This means that many political deals have to made between parties, opening the doors to corruption and bribery. Countries like Germany have coped with this slightly better, showing a good record of managing coalition governments. Still, this shows one of the main advantages of the FPTP system – that a majority government can be achieved and therefore legislation can much more easily be passed through the chambers.
FPTP is also a system which we have had in place since 1882, so why change it now? It has produced entirely majority governments since its foundation (apart from a few hung parliaments), and has maintained its status as one of the leading world electoral systems. It may not be proportional necessarily, but the party with the most votes does tend to get the most seats, which does show an element of