Electoral Reform Notes

MODERN BRITISH POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

ELECTORAL REFORM

Is there any logic in retaining the first-past-the post-system for Westminster elections?

An electoral system is only as fair as the constituencies on which it is based.

The Jenkins Commission and the Implications of Electoral Reform for the UK Constitution: I. Maclean

- Divides modes of representation into ‘principal agent’ and ‘microcosmic’, the former relating to majoritarian electoral systems and the latter to proportional.

- Political agents should be expected to represent the interests of their electors to the best of their ability; an underperforming representative should be removable at the next election.

- Majoritarian electoral systems generally turn a plurality of votes into a majority of seats for one party, allowing the formation of a single executive.

- John Adams said, following the American Revolution, that the legislature should be a miniature portrait of the people at-large – and it should think, feel, reason, and act like them¹. Should the people be represented by partisan preference alone, or by some other cleavage?

- Electoral systems are there to both represent public opinion and provide a functional government; coalition negotiations resulting from PR can be lengthy and distant from the wishes of the electorate. Moreover, proportionality of seats does not equal proportionality of power, particularly under the UK’s current system of Prime Ministerial patronage.

- In practice it had proved near-impossible to convince legislators to vote for their own demise and propose a switch from majoritarian to proportional electoral systems; proportional systems tend to have emerged from revolution, constitutional change, referendum, or the rise of a socialist third party – none apply to the UK.

- The 1987 general election marked the ninth consecutive defeat for the Conservative in Scotland and renewed calls for electoral reform and/or devolution. When the devolved parliament in Scotland was created there were no existing MSPs to lose their seats as a result of a proportional electoral system.

- The British imposed STV on Ireland in 1920 in order to protect minorities within the region. Blair’s 1998 ‘Good Friday Agreement’ created a Northern Ireland Assembly based on PR.

- By what system are Britain’s MEPs elected?

- At present, intergovernmental disputes are handled by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The UK may soon need a constitutional court.

The Twilight of Westminster? Electoral Reform and its Consequences: P. Norris

- In the past the majoritarian Westminster system has combined accountability with effective government. Single-member districts create stronger voter-representative links, maintain the accountability of members to localities, and increase voter satisfaction; this is an argument used for the retention of the current electoral system in Britain.

- First past the post is deemed fairer and more transparent than ad hoc coalition formation under proportional systems.

- In multi-member districts with closed party lists it is impossible for electors to reward or punish a particular candidate on the basis of their performance; Israel provides the most stark example of this, with the entire nation being a single constituency. PR systems with open lists allow some prioritisation of candidates by electors. District magnitude and mode of selection is highly significant².

- It is argued that, in an environment of rising support for minority parties, the British public has become unsatisfied with the electoral outcomes provided by FPTP; the counter-claim is that the current system is simple and transparent.

- Norris’s study found that nations with some form of proportionality in their electoral system produced voters with a far higher knowledge of political candidates. Single-member constituencies generally resulted in election results with which the public were more satisfied in terms of fairness and efficacy that combined or multi-member constituencies.

- Majoritarian systems to generate more voter-member contact than PR systems; however, so do multimember districts.

Choosing an Electoral System – Issues and Alternatives: Lijphart & Grofman

- 17 of the 21 post-war democracies use a PR system for elections; the four exceptions being France, Australia, Ireland, and Japan. The most important sub-types of PR are List PR and STV.

- Those in favour of majoritarian elections argue that the two party system it tends to by discriminating against small parties creates stable government.

- PR better represents the interests and viewpoints of the electorate, say supporters.

- The case for majoritarian systems:

- Are calls for PR in the national interest or special pleading?

- Voters do not simply want politicians to represent their opinions, but to engage in collaborative decision-making. PR prevents voters from selecting a government ‘team’; at best they will elect part of a team.

- PR guarantees voters a representative, but then forces that representative to compromise, often significantly, in order to form a functional government³.

- The choice of electoral system depends to a great degree on the society it is representing, as well as the nature of its institutions and political discourse.

- The case for PR:

- Elections are there to consult the wishes of the people the elected body is there to serve; electors must have a credible choice and that choice must have an effect on the persons being elected.

- In Britain voters can choose candidates that are preselected by a party; in Israel the choice is for parties but not for candidates. In Israel 95% of voters elect a member of the party they voted for; in Britain 50% of voters elect no-one.

- Is it reasonable to exclude from parliament representatives with non-centrist views?

- Compare 1945 and 1951 psephology – Britain’s system produces unjustifiable results.

- There are two types of PR, one which centres on the parties and seats are awarded in proportion...

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