The Case for The Case for retaining FPTPretaining FPTPSome general pointsSome general points

The Advantages of The Advantages of FPTPFPTP

IntroductionIntroduction

The case for FPTP can be divided into The case for FPTP can be divided into two major sections: the advantages of two major sections: the advantages of FPTP and the disadvantages in FPTP and the disadvantages in principle of any PR system together principle of any PR system together with the practical difficulties involved with the practical difficulties involved in introducing specific systems of PR.in introducing specific systems of PR.

The positive defence of the current The positive defence of the current system is based upon the inter-relation system is based upon the inter-relation of several features of the electoral and of several features of the electoral and political system. political system.

1. 1. Single-party majoritiesSingle-party majorities

FPTP magnifies the winning FPTP magnifies the winning party’s victory when popular party’s victory when popular votes are translated into seats votes are translated into seats in the Commons. So it in the Commons. So it encourages supports and encourages supports and reinforces the concept of a reinforces the concept of a general election as an general election as an electoral choice between two electoral choice between two alternative teams of political alternative teams of political leaders, Single party leaders, Single party government produces.government produces.

Rebuttal. What do we mean by winner? Rebuttal. What do we mean by winner? Labour lost in 1951. Conservatives lost Labour lost in 1951. Conservatives lost in 1974.in 1974.

2. 2. Effective government Effective government based on principlebased on principle

The ability to transfer The ability to transfer proposals into legislation proposals into legislation or other practical action or other practical action despite the checks of the despite the checks of the opposition.opposition.

Decisions are taken Decisions are taken within a more-or-less within a more-or-less cohesive framework of cohesive framework of principle and priorities principle and priorities because of the because of the ideological nature of the ideological nature of the political parties. political parties.

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3. 3. Accountable governmentAccountable government

It can be clearly seen who is It can be clearly seen who is responsible for government responsible for government decisions, and the Cabinet decisions, and the Cabinet can be held accountable can be held accountable through parliamentary through parliamentary procedures and, ultimately, procedures and, ultimately, at the next General Election. at the next General Election.

There is normally a clear There is normally a clear connection between general connection between general elections and government elections and government formation in the sense that formation in the sense that there is no post election there is no post election bargaining between parties bargaining between parties for office.for office.

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4. 4. A simple transfer of A simple transfer of powerpower

Even when the Even when the popular vote there popular vote there are only rarely are only rarely constitutional constitutional problems in forming problems in forming governments. governments.

5. 5. Mandates for government Mandates for government policiespolicies

A mandate is a grant of A mandate is a grant of authority from the electorate authority from the electorate and because they publish and because they publish their projected policies their projected policies (manifestos) in extensive (manifestos) in extensive detail elections can be seen detail elections can be seen as contests between policies as contests between policies not just personnel. The not just personnel. The winning party claims popular winning party claims popular consent for its programme. consent for its programme. The twin doctrines of The twin doctrines of manifesto and mandate are manifesto and mandate are central to the quality of British central to the quality of British government. government.

6. 6. Responsive to movements in Responsive to movements in public opinionpublic opinion

In order to win an In order to win an election parties must election parties must appeal to all sections appeal to all sections of the community.of the community.

Rebuttal? What Rebuttal? What does the electoral does the electoral map of UK 2010 map of UK 2010 show?show?

7. 7. Local RepresentationLocal Representation

DDefenders of FPTP efenders of FPTP stress the strength of the stress the strength of the link between an MP and link between an MP and his or her constituency. his or her constituency.

MPs are a channel MPs are a channel through which ordinary through which ordinary people can protect their people can protect their interests and many MPs interests and many MPs make a career of being a make a career of being a good constituency MPgood constituency MP

Rebuttal – In 2010 Rebuttal – In 2010 David Mundell won David Mundell won with 33% of the vote.with 33% of the vote.

8. Some say FPTP 8. Some say FPTP discourages small partiesdiscourages small parties

Do we want to Do we want to encourage people encourage people like the Monster like the Monster Raving Loony Party?Raving Loony Party?

The Labour Party The Labour Party was a new party in was a new party in 1901. In 1924 Labour 1901. In 1924 Labour formed the formed the Government.Government.

The public likes FPTPThe public likes FPTP

In a UK wide In a UK wide referendum in May referendum in May 2011 the British 2011 the British public voted to public voted to keep FPTP as the keep FPTP as the voting system.voting system.

68% voted to keep 68% voted to keep it.it.

The turnout was The turnout was 41%41%

The Disadvantages of The Disadvantages of PRPR

The public dislikes PRThe public dislikes PR

In a referendum the In a referendum the British public voted to British public voted to reject PR.reject PR.

Only 32% wanted to Only 32% wanted to change to the change to the Alternative Vote Alternative Vote system.system.

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Alternative Vote is not Alternative Vote is not proportional. proportional.

Supporters of PR did not Supporters of PR did not want this to be offered as want this to be offered as the alternative to FPTP.the alternative to FPTP.

The rejection of AV may The rejection of AV may amount to a rejection of the amount to a rejection of the Liberal Democrats as in the Liberal Democrats as in the local elections in England local elections in England (carried out at the same (carried out at the same time), the Lib-Dems were time), the Lib-Dems were routed.routed.

PR inevitably means coalition government PR inevitably means coalition government and coalition government means weak and coalition government means weak government.government.

Robert Blackburn quotes Lord Tebbit, ‘Just ask Robert Blackburn quotes Lord Tebbit, ‘Just ask yourselves, would a government without a yourselves, would a government without a majority [of seats in the Commons] have been majority [of seats in the Commons] have been able to take the decisions needed to have able to take the decisions needed to have thrown the army of the fascist Argentinean thrown the army of the fascist Argentinean dictator out of the Falklands?dictator out of the Falklands?

more democratic than PR systems and, more democratic than PR systems and, because it produces single party because it produces single party governments it encourages effective and governments it encourages effective and stable government.stable government.

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Tony Blair took Tony Blair took Britain to war in Iraq Britain to war in Iraq – illegally?– illegally?

‘‘horsetrading’ between horsetrading’ between parties after electionsparties after elections..

Former Prime Minister John Major “proportional Former Prime Minister John Major “proportional representation would 'drain authority from the representation would 'drain authority from the Westminster Parliament' and lead to minority Westminster Parliament' and lead to minority governments formed by 'backstage deals' in 'smoke-governments formed by 'backstage deals' in 'smoke-filled rooms'.”filled rooms'.”

Parties bargain over which policies coalitions will Parties bargain over which policies coalitions will pursue pursue after after the election so the opportunity the the election so the opportunity the electorate have to endorse or reject specific policies is electorate have to endorse or reject specific policies is lost and the connection between the peoples’ votes lost and the connection between the peoples’ votes and government policies is greatly weakened.and government policies is greatly weakened.

Defenders of FPTP therefore argue that it is truly Defenders of FPTP therefore argue that it is truly undemocratic.undemocratic.

Coalitions are essentially Coalitions are essentially unstableunstable

According to a Conservative Political Centre pamphlet According to a Conservative Political Centre pamphlet in 1982, 'Why Electoral Change: The Case for PR in 1982, 'Why Electoral Change: The Case for PR Examined' by Sir Angus Maude and John Szemerey, Examined' by Sir Angus Maude and John Szemerey, ‘Minority government and coalitions are conducive to ‘Minority government and coalitions are conducive to unstable and weak government. There is often a long unstable and weak government. There is often a long period after elections without a government, as the period after elections without a government, as the parties haggle over policies before arrangements parties haggle over policies before arrangements between the potential partners are finalised. between the potential partners are finalised. Experience from countries which have coalitions Experience from countries which have coalitions suggests that coalition partners, particularly minority suggests that coalition partners, particularly minority parties, frequently withdraw backing from governments parties, frequently withdraw backing from governments faced by a downturn in the economy or the need to faced by a downturn in the economy or the need to take unpopular measures’. (quoted by Blackburn).take unpopular measures’. (quoted by Blackburn).

Daily Telegraph, ‘A vote for proportional representation Daily Telegraph, ‘A vote for proportional representation . . . is not a vote for fairness, but for injustice; not a vote . . . is not a vote for fairness, but for injustice; not a vote for stability, but for political chaos. Take the example for stability, but for political chaos. Take the example of Belgium, where ... proportional representation has of Belgium, where ... proportional representation has created a political culture of backstairs deals and created a political culture of backstairs deals and perpetual campaigning. Take the example of Italy, perpetual campaigning. Take the example of Italy, where proportional representation has created where proportional representation has created permanent instability, with a series of coalition permanent instability, with a series of coalition governments that have had to depend on several minor governments that have had to depend on several minor parties whose influence has been out of all proportion parties whose influence has been out of all proportion to their success in the polls’.to their success in the polls’.

PR inevitably gives disproportionate power PR inevitably gives disproportionate power to minority partiesto minority parties

Under PR it is extremely difficult for any Under PR it is extremely difficult for any one party to gain an overall majority of one party to gain an overall majority of seats, so small parties commonly hold seats, so small parties commonly hold the balance - like the the balance - like the Free DemocratsFree Democrats in in Germany who rarely gain more than 10% Germany who rarely gain more than 10% of the vote but who are always part of the of the vote but who are always part of the governing coalition. governing coalition.

PR can lead to extremismPR can lead to extremism

Adolf Hitler was elected under a proportional Adolf Hitler was elected under a proportional party list system. party list system.

John Major – former Prime Minister - said John Major – former Prime Minister - said 'Some sorts of proportional representation 'Some sorts of proportional representation would let in very tiny minorities with would let in very tiny minorities with extremely unrepre sentative views’ e.g. the extremely unrepre sentative views’ e.g. the BNP.BNP.

(The BNP in 2011 have two MEP’s elected (The BNP in 2011 have two MEP’s elected under the party list system). One of these is under the party list system). One of these is their leader Nick Griffin (left)their leader Nick Griffin (left)

With PR the process of offering the electorate With PR the process of offering the electorate the chance to reject or endorse specific the chance to reject or endorse specific policies is rendered impossible.policies is rendered impossible.

The twin doctrines of the manifesto and the The twin doctrines of the manifesto and the mandate are very important in democracies.mandate are very important in democracies.

In hung parliaments, the people vote first and In hung parliaments, the people vote first and the manifesto on which the government will the manifesto on which the government will work is decided afterwards. None of the work is decided afterwards. None of the election promises can be sacrosanct. Each election promises can be sacrosanct. Each one may have to be sacrificed in order to one may have to be sacrificed in order to attract the support of a minority party whose attract the support of a minority party whose votes are necessary for a Commons coalition. votes are necessary for a Commons coalition.

The Liberal Democrats are criticised by The Liberal Democrats are criticised by defenders of FPTP for blatant self-interest.defenders of FPTP for blatant self-interest.

Liberal Democrat arguments in support of Liberal Democrat arguments in support of reform are in reality a less-than-honest attempt reform are in reality a less-than-honest attempt to gain more parliamentary seats for to gain more parliamentary seats for themselves. themselves.

The Conservative, Graham Riddick, suggested The Conservative, Graham Riddick, suggested during House of Commons' debate that, ‘The during House of Commons' debate that, ‘The truth is that [the Liberal Democrats and SDP] truth is that [the Liberal Democrats and SDP] advocate proportional representation because advocate proportional representation because [they] believe it to be the surest way to get a [they] believe it to be the surest way to get a taste of power’. taste of power’.

Critics point to the complexity of some Critics point to the complexity of some PR systemsPR systems..

E.g. STV. Whereas Liberal Democrats maintain E.g. STV. Whereas Liberal Democrats maintain that it is sufficient for the returning officer to that it is sufficient for the returning officer to understand the mathematical calculations of understand the mathematical calculations of how votes are translated into seats the recent how votes are translated into seats the recent Plant Report for the Labour Party said that if a Plant Report for the Labour Party said that if a system is so complex that an ordinary voter system is so complex that an ordinary voter cannot explain the mechanism at work cannot explain the mechanism at work between his or her casting a vote and the between his or her casting a vote and the eventual result, democracy is not well served. eventual result, democracy is not well served.

Critics also point to a number of practical Critics also point to a number of practical difficulties with, and objections to, specific difficulties with, and objections to, specific systems of PR.systems of PR.

For example, AMS has features which For example, AMS has features which make it unacceptable in Britain, most make it unacceptable in Britain, most importantly the creation of two classes of importantly the creation of two classes of MPs - half of the MPs do not represent MPs - half of the MPs do not represent any body in particular and even any body in particular and even prominent MPs may never actually face prominent MPs may never actually face the electorate directly as long as they the electorate directly as long as they have high party standing. have high party standing.

Summary : In Defence of Summary : In Defence of FPTPFPTP

Defence of the electoral system is bound up with defence of the Defence of the electoral system is bound up with defence of the party system and general centralised and ‘strong’ nature of British party system and general centralised and ‘strong’ nature of British government. The major parties are mass parties, fighting each government. The major parties are mass parties, fighting each constituency each having definite policies and a recognised constituency each having definite policies and a recognised leadership who must face the electorate at least every five years. leadership who must face the electorate at least every five years. Thus the parties not only allow the electorate to be the final arbiter Thus the parties not only allow the electorate to be the final arbiter on who holds power but they give a detailed idea of what policies on who holds power but they give a detailed idea of what policies the power holders will pursue.the power holders will pursue.

Since the electoral system encourages voters to exercise their Since the electoral system encourages voters to exercise their vote on a national basis and to view the contest as one between vote on a national basis and to view the contest as one between alternative governments, the electorate, according to A.H. Birch is alternative governments, the electorate, according to A.H. Birch is given a crucial role, ‘The possession of the right to vote given a crucial role, ‘The possession of the right to vote transforms the great mass of citizens from being a captive transforms the great mass of citizens from being a captive audience of the political drama to being occasional participants audience of the political drama to being occasional participants themselves. Audiencethemselves. Audience

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