Under FPTP: UK G.E’s and local councils in ANALYSIS
England and Wales
2015 UKIP won 12% of the national vote but Shows how FPTP is bad for third parties as it
only one seat in HoC. only rewards concentrated support.
2010, the extremist right-wing British BUT also means that success of extremist
National Party won 2% of the national vote parties is rare.
but didn’t finish higher than 3rd in any
constituency.
2019: Lib Dems won over 10% of the popular Shows how seats don’t reflect the number of
vote and only secured 11 seats vs votes well and favours larger parties.
2001 Labour won 40% of the votes and 167 Due to the “winner takes all effect” Labour
seats. and Con tend to be overrepresented. Often
2005 Labour won 35% of the vote and 354 leads to a discrepancy between the
seats. proportion of votes a party receives and the
2019 Conservatives won 40% of the popular proportion of seats won by the main parties.
vote and 357 of the seats. So just over half.
2010 Coalition gov Doesn’t always form strong and stable gov.
2017 May’s supply and demand agreement
2015 May 30 different defeats for her Brexit
deal
2/4 recent elections failed to create majority
governments.
Generally, it produces a single party majority
2010 coalition gov was the first for 70 years. government.
Which gives voters a clear decision that
1980’s Thatcher could bring about usually results in a clear majority for one
widespread economic reform - Right to Buy party, giving that party a strong mandate to
and privatisation of public services (rail, carry out their manifesto.
electricity)
1997 Blair constitutional reforms (devolution)
Due to a large majority Blair was able to force Can create elective dictatorship.
through his bills on the war in Iraq and
Johnson passed his Brexit bill with no
amendments.
[AMS in 2024, the SNP coalition broke down AMS usually doesn’t create strong and stable
with the Greens as Hamza Yousaf put his foot gov like FPTP.
down on the Greens wanting to have too
much control in their coalition.
SNP is seeking a third leader in little more
than a year as Hamza Yousaf resigned. ]
, Results known quickly and allow for a swift
1997, Blair arrived at downing street as new transition of power under FPTP vs more
PM at 1pm, the day after the election proportional systems.
2019, 1st constituency result (Newcastle
Central) announced that night on the day of
the election. VS AMS takes longer due to negotiations
[VS After 2007 Scottish Parliament Elections needing to be made.
which use AMS, it took 2 weeks for the SNP
minority gov to be sworn in, after failed
coalition talks w/the Lib Dems.]
Simplicity and familiarity is a factor ppl like
Referendum on switching to AV in 2011, 68% FPTP.
voted to keep FPTP, w/ a turnout of 42%.
BUT More people want reform to it now.
51% now favour reform to the voting system
for elections to the House of Commons, up
from 27% in 2011 and 43% in 2017.
Under AMS: Scot Parliament, Welsh ANALYSIS
Assembly
2021 Scottish Parliament election, the greens Proportional and hybrid electoral systems are
won just 1.3% of the constituency votes, but much fairer for third parties.
8% of the party list votes, and got 8 seats.
UKIP failed to win any seats in 2016 Scottish AMS ensures the n.o of seats won more
Parliament, Welsh Assembly and London closely reflects votes and reduces bias
Assembly. However, it had enough support towards large parties.
across Wales and London to win 7 “top up” If a party wins a large number of constituency
seats in Wales and two “top up” London seats (and is therefore over-represented),
Assembly seats. this can be ‘corrected’ through the
2011 Scottish Parliament elections, where distribution of the party list seats.
Labour had their representation corrected in
such a way.
SNP is seeking a third leader in little more Creates coalitions not strong and stable gov.
than a year as Hamza Yousaf resigned.
2021 – 2024 coalition between SNP and
Green party in the Scottish parliament. (has
now been broken down)
After 2007 Scottish Parliament Elections Takes longer to form a gov as well.
England and Wales
2015 UKIP won 12% of the national vote but Shows how FPTP is bad for third parties as it
only one seat in HoC. only rewards concentrated support.
2010, the extremist right-wing British BUT also means that success of extremist
National Party won 2% of the national vote parties is rare.
but didn’t finish higher than 3rd in any
constituency.
2019: Lib Dems won over 10% of the popular Shows how seats don’t reflect the number of
vote and only secured 11 seats vs votes well and favours larger parties.
2001 Labour won 40% of the votes and 167 Due to the “winner takes all effect” Labour
seats. and Con tend to be overrepresented. Often
2005 Labour won 35% of the vote and 354 leads to a discrepancy between the
seats. proportion of votes a party receives and the
2019 Conservatives won 40% of the popular proportion of seats won by the main parties.
vote and 357 of the seats. So just over half.
2010 Coalition gov Doesn’t always form strong and stable gov.
2017 May’s supply and demand agreement
2015 May 30 different defeats for her Brexit
deal
2/4 recent elections failed to create majority
governments.
Generally, it produces a single party majority
2010 coalition gov was the first for 70 years. government.
Which gives voters a clear decision that
1980’s Thatcher could bring about usually results in a clear majority for one
widespread economic reform - Right to Buy party, giving that party a strong mandate to
and privatisation of public services (rail, carry out their manifesto.
electricity)
1997 Blair constitutional reforms (devolution)
Due to a large majority Blair was able to force Can create elective dictatorship.
through his bills on the war in Iraq and
Johnson passed his Brexit bill with no
amendments.
[AMS in 2024, the SNP coalition broke down AMS usually doesn’t create strong and stable
with the Greens as Hamza Yousaf put his foot gov like FPTP.
down on the Greens wanting to have too
much control in their coalition.
SNP is seeking a third leader in little more
than a year as Hamza Yousaf resigned. ]
, Results known quickly and allow for a swift
1997, Blair arrived at downing street as new transition of power under FPTP vs more
PM at 1pm, the day after the election proportional systems.
2019, 1st constituency result (Newcastle
Central) announced that night on the day of
the election. VS AMS takes longer due to negotiations
[VS After 2007 Scottish Parliament Elections needing to be made.
which use AMS, it took 2 weeks for the SNP
minority gov to be sworn in, after failed
coalition talks w/the Lib Dems.]
Simplicity and familiarity is a factor ppl like
Referendum on switching to AV in 2011, 68% FPTP.
voted to keep FPTP, w/ a turnout of 42%.
BUT More people want reform to it now.
51% now favour reform to the voting system
for elections to the House of Commons, up
from 27% in 2011 and 43% in 2017.
Under AMS: Scot Parliament, Welsh ANALYSIS
Assembly
2021 Scottish Parliament election, the greens Proportional and hybrid electoral systems are
won just 1.3% of the constituency votes, but much fairer for third parties.
8% of the party list votes, and got 8 seats.
UKIP failed to win any seats in 2016 Scottish AMS ensures the n.o of seats won more
Parliament, Welsh Assembly and London closely reflects votes and reduces bias
Assembly. However, it had enough support towards large parties.
across Wales and London to win 7 “top up” If a party wins a large number of constituency
seats in Wales and two “top up” London seats (and is therefore over-represented),
Assembly seats. this can be ‘corrected’ through the
2011 Scottish Parliament elections, where distribution of the party list seats.
Labour had their representation corrected in
such a way.
SNP is seeking a third leader in little more Creates coalitions not strong and stable gov.
than a year as Hamza Yousaf resigned.
2021 – 2024 coalition between SNP and
Green party in the Scottish parliament. (has
now been broken down)
After 2007 Scottish Parliament Elections Takes longer to form a gov as well.
