FPTP Reform

FPTP Reform

1. Simplicity

   • It is easy to operate and all voters are confident in using it, other systems may appear complex thus declining turnout
     • This benefit is overrated, today's electorate could cope with the change as seen in other European developed countries.

2. Speed

   • It is quick to produce a result and elected members and governments are soon in place, PR could take greater time
     • If electronic voting was introduced then other systems would be just as quick, also although speed is valued, accuracy and fairness are more important

3. Strong Government

   • It produces a strong government at Westminster with working majorities, other systems often produce coalitions
     • Strong government comes at the expense of a unrepresentative government. It discriminates against smaller parties that have widespread support. Also, it is wrong to assume a coalition government is weak.

4. Voter-Constituency-MP Link

   • MPs have a close relationship with constituencies meeting them regularly at 'surgeries', to represent their concerns in Parliament. This clear geographical link is worth preserving
     • Other electoral systems can equally maintain and even build on this link. Also it is argued how important this link is as many people focus on party leaders during general elections

5. Clear Choice

   • It produces a clear choice for the electorate and the two party format mirrors the natural divide in society
     • Maybe this choice is an illusion. It is hard for other parties to break the two-party dominance, also the two party monopoly is not reflective of the UK political culture.
       • It creates electoral deserts and safe seats where voters feel their vote is worthless, this also leads to tactical voting instead of their first choice

6. Accountability

   • Provides clear lines of accountability both at a constituency level and also a national governmental level. MPs and governments are re-elected if the public is content
     • Argued that MPs accountability is limited by the existence of safe seats and low national and regional turnout

7. Representation

   • It ensures mandate democracy as the winning party has the opportunity to carry out its election manifesto unlike PR systems that produce coalition governments. It ensures a strong and stable government who have majority control over the House of Commons and so can effectively carry out decisions
     • Produces a strong opposition available to scrutinise the executive, thus greatening democracy. It has stood the test of time and changing to PR would have unknown consequences.
       • Governments unfairly claim legitimacy when they usually only get one third of the vote. Under this system few seats change hands and the election is won and lost in only 20% of the seats contested
         • The current system gives poorer representation than other PR electoral systems
           • Over-represents larger parties and discriminates those smaller parties with large geographical spread (UKIP, 3.9 million votes- 1 seat)

8. Excludes Extremist Parties

   • Minority parties with extreme and politically unsavoury views are denied representation
     • Other systems with in-built thresholds also achieve this. Also, the role of the electoral system is to reflect the views of all the people