Arguments for and against FPTP

The system is part of our traditions
The system is cheap, easy to operate and easily understood. This helps voters and contributes to a greater confidence in the result.
The single-member constituency allows for a close MP-Constituency link
The system normally produces strong, majority government, making coalitions less likely.
The system distorts the popular vote to an unacceptable degree
Provides little voter choice and therefore leads to large numbers of wasted votes
It disadvantages small parties and those with support spread evenly across constituencies i.e. parties who frequently come second e.g. Lib Dems
It routinely results in an artifically polarised adversarial politics (so-called 'yah-boo' politics). Some people maintain that coalitions are more constructive and productive.
Key
1. For
2. Against

Resource summary

	Created by Gabrielle Hamer almost 9 years ago