Why are different systems used in different parts of the of the UK?- FPTP/genral elections
- outcomes it produces suits the interests of the 2 largest parties
- labour offered a ref on FPTP before the 1997 GE but had no incentive to deliver (Tony Blair)
- coalition offered a ref on AV 2011 after taking office in 2010- lack of popular support for change was evident in the result
-other systems were chosen by Blair government when it established new devolved institutions in different parts of the UK
Labour and conservatives benifit from FPTO
Why are different systems used in different parts of the of the UK? STV/ northern Irish assembly elections
- chosen after the 1998 Good Friday agreement because it is highly proportional to- important to avoid single party domination in view of background of conflict between unionists and nationalists communities
- use of STV ensures gov are power sharing bodies are drawn from both sides of the divide
- STV already used in the Republic of Ireland
Unionist = UK= DUP
Nationalists= Ireland=Sinn Fein
Why are different systems used in different parts of the of the UK? AMS/Scottish Parliament and Welsh assembly
- compromise between labour/ Lib Dem/ SNP- prefferd STV
- element of proportionality while also retaining local representation through the FPTP element
- after AMS had been agreed on for Scotland it was declined to use the same system in wales
- in 2026 wales will use in the CPL system
Lib Dem + SNP wanted STV
AMS compromise with labour
Why are different systems used in different parts of the of the UK? London mayoral elections until 2022
- easy to use and only top 2 parties make it tot he final round
- 2nd preference would be added to the 1st and in this way the winner would have a clear mandate
- SV was replaced by FPTP for mayoral and police and crime commissioner excretions in the elections act 2022 (conservatives)
- will be reintroduced in the 2025 English devolution and community empowerment bill (labour)
2024 GE Scotland
FPTP - Westminster election
Turnout - 59.2%- low
Labour gained a winners bonus
Seat share = 64.9%
Vote share = 35.3%
Liberal Democrat’s and conservatives wasted votes
2021 Scottish parliament election
AMS
Turnout = 63.5%(+7.7%)
Overall the representation is more proportional
Constituency = 73 seats - FPTP
SNP — 47.7% vote share —> 84.9% seat share= winners bonus
Regional seats = 56 seats
SNP — 40.3% votes —> 49.6% seat share
2024 general election wales
FPTP
Turnout - 56%
Labour 37% votes = 84.4% seats —> winners bonus
Conservative and reform UK combined had a total of 35% vote and no seats seats - wasted
2021 senedd election
AMS
Turnout = 46.6% (+1.2%)- low turnout depsite being up
Somewhat proportional
Constituency setas = 40
Regional seats = 20
Labour win with 50% seat share
2024 GE Northern Ireland
FPTP - Westminster election Turnout
Sinn Fein - vote share= 27%—> vote share= 38.9%- winners bonus 12%
Supports the 2 party system with DUP getting 27.8% seat share
Smaller parties like alliance and SDLP loose out
2022 northern Irish assembly election
STV
Turnout -63.6%(-1.2%)
Sinn Fein =vote share - 29%—-> seat share - 30%
More proportional system
Allow smaller parties seats - people before profit 1.1% vote share , 1% seat share
FPTP
- 2 largest parties enjoy winner bonus - greater number of seats than their share of the votes
- the elctoral reform society calculated that 3/4 of the votes cast in the 2015 election ere wasted - the outcome in 368 safe seats - only 5 wrong
- the ballot paper is very simple with a single cross next toy 1 candidate- votes are easy to count - quick
- UKIP won a single seat for its 3.8 million votes in the 2015 GE, hole SNP gained 50% of the Scottish vote but won 56/59 seats - in 2024 reform UK won over 4 million votes (14%) only 5 seats , greens received over 1.8 million votes but 4 seats
- MPs elected on plurality not majority support - in 2015 only 51% of MPs had a majority mandate (more than 50% of the vote in their constituency) - at national level regularly produces governments elected on less than 50 of the vote - 2025 labour won with only 35% of total vote
- promotes strong stale governments - since ww2 only 2 minority governments - winning party gains a winners bonus - labour 2025 2/3 seats, 1/3 votes
- tacticle voting - voting for 1 or 2 candidates for who is likely to to win rathe than who you actually prefer - UKIP supporters will be told vote conservative to keep labour out
SV
- voters pick 1st and 2nd choice - used in London mayoral elections - if no candidate has over 50% on the 1st choice the 2nd preferences are added
- family easy to understand - more likely to ensure majority support - Sadiq Kahn has the largest personal mandate of any politician in UK history - 57% of the vote
- still has many problems of FPTP- tacticle voting
STV
- some argue the M constituency link is weakened as there is more than 1 MP per sontituency - others argued it is strengthened due to a choice of who to contact
- voters number their choice preferably - in NI there are 18 constituencies each elected 5 MLAs for a total of 90 MLAs - prefers system of elctoral reform society
- voting more complicated - voters may not be familiar with candidates - lead to alphabet voting
- 1st minster and deputy 1st minster are nominated by the 2 largest parties - equal in status and share governmental responsibilities - minsters from DUP and Sinn Fein since 2007- help maintain power sharing and peace
- counting is more complicated - candidates have to reach a quota -longer to count - coalitions more likely so negotiations behind closed doors
- proportional system that eliminates the problems of safe seats, tactile voting ad their are fewer wasted votes
AMS
- a hybrid system - voters vote once for a local constituency representative and once for a regional party member
- the greater number of regional members the greater proportionality - constituency MOPs also ensures link is retained
- gives party leaders greater influence as they decide which MPs fill the regional seats - creates 2 clauses of MPs
- low voter turnout - since 1999 Scottish Parliament and welsh assembly not reached over 50%
- even if constituency vote wasted regional vote will count - voters can split their ticket
- SNP largest party sine 2007
- Green Party gained 6 seats in Scotland
- higher percentage of rejected ballot papers- complex
FPTP uk genral elections - impact or no
Impact
- single party rule is the norm
- majority government formed
- designed to work for 2 main parties and unfairly rewards our parties
- winners bonus
- un proportional - reform UK / green 2024 GE
- SNP also benifit - concentrated vote in Scotland mean that in 2010 they won 56/59 seats with 50% vote
- holds back multi party politis
Lack of impact
- single party rule less likely - oalition gov 2010-2015
- larger roles for smaller parties
- leads to problems like safe seats, tactical voting, wasted votes
Single transferable vote Northern Ireland impact or no
- more representative - shades of option within parties captured - vote for induvidual MPs
- spread of party support
- greens gained 2 seats out of 108 in 216 NI election with 2.7% vote
- smaller parties benifit
Lack of an impact
- NI has to have a coalition government as part of the Good Friday agreement
- divided nature in NI result in coalitions - historical tensions within the region
AMS- Scotland and wales impact or no
Impact
-proportional system - led to a greater number of coalitions or minority governments - because of having 2 votes constituency (FPTP) and regional members (party list)
- there is compensation tot hose who fail to do well at constituency level but have large overall vote wasted regional
- vey hard for the SNP to achieve overall majority support in the Scottish Parliament
- allow conservatives for wide spread support - better at regional level - less well at constituency level
- green well at constituency level - bad at regional level
- small parties become king members
- create strong stable single-party government - could be used to replace FPTP
- wide spread of parties having influence
Lack of impact
- Scot and wales have experienced majorty governments - SNP largest party since 2007 Scotland — wales - labour strongest
party
- less likely to rule with majorities under AMS
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Bridgeing Work90
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Mr Fuller Paper 2- The Constitution- Reforms66
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Mr Martin 1.158
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History Of Politics39
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Mr Martin 1.221
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Mt Martin 1.338
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Mr Fuller Paper 2 - Devolution18
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1.4 Rights MM20
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3.1 Electoral Systems MM21
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3.3 Electoral System Analysis17
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3.2 Referendums15
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Mr Martin 2.120
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ELECTIONS MR MARTIN6
