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Evaluate the view that using different electoral systems has had little significance on UK politics
(30)
It depends what you look at- the individual party system or the party’s effect on policy. Using SV
(a majoritarian system) for London Mayor and PCC elections and FPTP (a plurality system)
creates a strong two-party system in Westminster. PR in Northern Ireland and MEP elections
creates multi-party systems and coalition governments. Overall, the significance of using
different electoral systems is strong as they create completely different results.
The strongest point in favor that different electoral systems have an effect on UK politics is that
majoritarian systems create a strong two-party system, which is shown by FPTP and SV.
Governments under a majoritarian system need over 50% of the vote and makes majorities. It
uses single member constituencies. Large parties take a higher proportion of seats while small
parties are under-represented. The only difference with FPTP (a plurality system) is that the
winner only needs a plurality of votes (one more than their closest rival). This is shown in
Westminster elections, where FPTP is used. In the 2017 general election, the two major parties
(Conservative and Labour) received 84% of the public vote and 90% of the MPs. In 2019, the
two major parties received 74% of vote and 87% of MPs. Conservatives won a majority of 80-
leading to a strong government which was also seen under Thatcher and Blair. FPTP turned
44% of the vote into 55% of MPs. Also in 2019 SNP won 48 out of 59 MPs in Scotland. Most of
these would traditionally have been won by Labour- this makes it virtually impossible for the
Labour Party to ‘win’ a general election without forming a coalition. SNP got 48% of the vote but
81% of Scottish MPs. This shows how FPTP distorts the vote and helps major parties, therefore
creating a two-party system. London mayor and PCC elections use the SV electoral system
which favors the two biggest parties. London mayors have only ever been Labour or
Conservative- the current mayor, Sadiq Khan, is part of Labour. Overall, the use of majoritarian
systems like FPTP and SV help the major parties more, leading to a strong two-party system.
Another strong point in favor that different electoral systems have an effect on UK politics is that
a mixed AMS system creates a 3 party system. Mixed systems are where some members are
elected by FPTP, and the remainder are elected by PR in multi-member constituencies. Scottish
elections use AMS (mild PR). In 2016, SNP won the election, although Labour and
Conservatives were saved by regional ‘top-up’ seats. AMS stops the SNP from winning virtually
all the MSP’s as they do under FPTP in Westminster elections (48/59 were won in the 2019
general election). It also helps smaller parties like Conservatives who only received 7 MSPs but
were saved by 24 regional top-ups. Welsh elections also use AMS. Labour ‘won’ but as a
minority government due to the non-adversarial nature of PR politics. AMS prevents Labour
from winning a majority of Welsh assembly. Labour currently rule as a minority government.
Overall, the results of elections under AMS creates very different results from FPTP- a 3 party
system instead of a 2 party system, showing that different electoral systems have a significant
effect on UK politics.
Thirdly, another strong argument that different electoral systems have an effect on UK politics is
that PR systems create multi-party systems. European elections (MEPs) use a regional party list
system (extreme PR). Closed regional lists allow one vote. Electoral formulas are used to
allocate seats, and they use large multi-member constituencies. There is a close fit between
votes and seats. The Brexit party won the 2019 MEP elections with 24/73 MEPs. PR allows
small parties to do well- shown in the Eastern constituency alone, where Brexit won 3 MEPs,
LibDems won 2 MEPs and Green won 1. Northern Ireland elections use STV. STV allows
electors to vote for as many candidates as they want in order of preference. The DUP and Sinn
Fein are meant to rule as a coalition for peace, and the PR system always creates a coalition.
Evaluate the view that using different electoral systems has had little significance on UK politics
(30)
It depends what you look at- the individual party system or the party’s effect on policy. Using SV
(a majoritarian system) for London Mayor and PCC elections and FPTP (a plurality system)
creates a strong two-party system in Westminster. PR in Northern Ireland and MEP elections
creates multi-party systems and coalition governments. Overall, the significance of using
different electoral systems is strong as they create completely different results.
The strongest point in favor that different electoral systems have an effect on UK politics is that
majoritarian systems create a strong two-party system, which is shown by FPTP and SV.
Governments under a majoritarian system need over 50% of the vote and makes majorities. It
uses single member constituencies. Large parties take a higher proportion of seats while small
parties are under-represented. The only difference with FPTP (a plurality system) is that the
winner only needs a plurality of votes (one more than their closest rival). This is shown in
Westminster elections, where FPTP is used. In the 2017 general election, the two major parties
(Conservative and Labour) received 84% of the public vote and 90% of the MPs. In 2019, the
two major parties received 74% of vote and 87% of MPs. Conservatives won a majority of 80-
leading to a strong government which was also seen under Thatcher and Blair. FPTP turned
44% of the vote into 55% of MPs. Also in 2019 SNP won 48 out of 59 MPs in Scotland. Most of
these would traditionally have been won by Labour- this makes it virtually impossible for the
Labour Party to ‘win’ a general election without forming a coalition. SNP got 48% of the vote but
81% of Scottish MPs. This shows how FPTP distorts the vote and helps major parties, therefore
creating a two-party system. London mayor and PCC elections use the SV electoral system
which favors the two biggest parties. London mayors have only ever been Labour or
Conservative- the current mayor, Sadiq Khan, is part of Labour. Overall, the use of majoritarian
systems like FPTP and SV help the major parties more, leading to a strong two-party system.
Another strong point in favor that different electoral systems have an effect on UK politics is that
a mixed AMS system creates a 3 party system. Mixed systems are where some members are
elected by FPTP, and the remainder are elected by PR in multi-member constituencies. Scottish
elections use AMS (mild PR). In 2016, SNP won the election, although Labour and
Conservatives were saved by regional ‘top-up’ seats. AMS stops the SNP from winning virtually
all the MSP’s as they do under FPTP in Westminster elections (48/59 were won in the 2019
general election). It also helps smaller parties like Conservatives who only received 7 MSPs but
were saved by 24 regional top-ups. Welsh elections also use AMS. Labour ‘won’ but as a
minority government due to the non-adversarial nature of PR politics. AMS prevents Labour
from winning a majority of Welsh assembly. Labour currently rule as a minority government.
Overall, the results of elections under AMS creates very different results from FPTP- a 3 party
system instead of a 2 party system, showing that different electoral systems have a significant
effect on UK politics.
Thirdly, another strong argument that different electoral systems have an effect on UK politics is
that PR systems create multi-party systems. European elections (MEPs) use a regional party list
system (extreme PR). Closed regional lists allow one vote. Electoral formulas are used to
allocate seats, and they use large multi-member constituencies. There is a close fit between
votes and seats. The Brexit party won the 2019 MEP elections with 24/73 MEPs. PR allows
small parties to do well- shown in the Eastern constituency alone, where Brexit won 3 MEPs,
LibDems won 2 MEPs and Green won 1. Northern Ireland elections use STV. STV allows
electors to vote for as many candidates as they want in order of preference. The DUP and Sinn
Fein are meant to rule as a coalition for peace, and the PR system always creates a coalition.
