Electoral Reform

Britain’s FPTP system is an inherently two-party one. Barring the two wartime governments and the Liberal Democrats’ recent five-year stint in a coalition with the Conservatives, only the Conservatives and the Labour Party have won an election since 1910. Voters are given a clear choice between these mostly opposed parties. Therefore, the FPTP winner takes all approach pays dividends, delivering a clear winner from these two. 

As part of the coalition agreement, it was decided that a referendum would be held on changing the voting system for elections to the Westminster Parliament to the alternative vote (AV). On Thursday 5 May 2011 the referendum produced a clear result against this change: 67.9% (13 million) were against change, 32.1% (6 million) were in favour. This now in effect halts any possible electoral reform- for a considerable period. However, we can still ascertain competing views about the suitability of first-­past-the-post (FPTP) as used in the Westminster elections.