8.1 The UK electoral system and its variations

The UK employs various electoral systems, from First-Past-the-Post in general elections to proportional representation in devolved administrations. Each system has unique pros and cons, impacting party representation, government formation, and voter engagement.

These diverse systems reflect the UK's complex political landscape. They balance local representation with proportionality, influence coalition dynamics, and shape campaign strategies. Understanding these systems is crucial for grasping UK politics and governance.

Electoral Systems in the UK

First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) and Proportional Representation (PR)

• First-past-the-post serves as the primary electoral system for UK general elections
  • Candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins the seat
  • Creates a direct link between constituents and their elected representative
• Proportional representation allocates seats in proportion to the share of votes received by parties or candidates
  • Aims to reflect the overall voter preferences more accurately
  • Various forms of PR used in different elections across the UK

Mixed and Alternative Voting Systems

• Additional Member System combines FPTP with a party list system
  • Used in Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly elections
  • Voters cast two votes: one for a constituency candidate and one for a party
• Single Transferable Vote allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference
  • Employed in Northern Ireland Assembly elections and some local elections
  • Promotes proportional representation while maintaining voter choice
• Supplementary Vote system used for mayoral elections in some UK cities
  • Voters express a first and second preference
  • If no candidate receives over 50% of first preference votes, second preferences are considered
• Party List system allocated seats based on parties' share of the vote
  • Used for European Parliament elections in Great Britain prior to Brexit
  • Parties present ordered lists of candidates to voters

Advantages vs Disadvantages of Electoral Systems

First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) Analysis

• Advantages of FPTP include:
  • Simplicity for voters and vote counters
  • Clear local representation with one MP per constituency
  • Tendency to produce stable single-party governments
  • Often leads to decisive outcomes, facilitating quicker government formation
• Disadvantages of FPTP encompass:
  • Potential for disproportionate results (seat share vs vote share)
  • High number of wasted votes that don't contribute to electing an MP
  • Underrepresentation of smaller parties with geographically dispersed support
  • Can lead to tactical voting, where voters choose a less-preferred candidate to prevent a worse outcome

Proportional Representation (PR) and Mixed Systems Evaluation

• Advantages of PR systems include:
  • More proportional representation of parties in the legislature
  • Encouragement of coalition-building and consensus politics
  • Reduced likelihood of wasted votes, as most votes contribute to seat allocation
  • Better representation of diverse political views and minority interests
• Disadvantages of PR systems involve:
  • Potential for unstable coalition governments
  • Weaker local representation compared to constituency-based systems
  • More complex voting processes, potentially confusing for some voters
  • Can give disproportionate power to small parties in coalition negotiations
• Mixed systems like AMS aim to balance local representation with overall proportionality
  • Can lead to two classes of representatives (constituency and list)
  • Provides voters with two votes, increasing their electoral influence
• STV offers voter choice and proportionality but presents challenges:
  • Complex for voters to understand and use effectively
  • Time-consuming and complex vote counting process
  • May lead to intra-party competition in multi-member constituencies

Impact of Electoral Systems on Representation

Party Representation and Government Formation

• FPTP typically favors larger parties in seat allocation
  • Can lead to majority governments formed by parties without a majority of the popular vote
  • Example: 2015 UK general election, Conservatives won 51% of seats with 37% of votes
• PR systems generally allow better representation of smaller parties
  • Increases diversity of political voices in the legislature
  • Example: 2016 Scottish Parliament election, six parties gained representation
• Electoral thresholds in some PR systems limit very small party representation
  • Balances representation with governability
  • Example: 5% threshold in German federal elections

Coalition Dynamics and Government Stability

• Coalition governments more common under PR systems
  • Can lead to more consensus-based policy-making
  • Potential for political instability if coalitions break down
  • Example: Belgian government formation difficulties in 2010-2011
• Swing required to change government smaller under FPTP
  • Can lead to more frequent changes in power
  • Example: UK elections in 1970s and 1980s saw several changes of government
• Electoral systems influence party strategies and campaign tactics
  • FPTP encourages focus on marginal seats
  • PR systems promote nationwide campaigns
  • Can affect formation of new political parties or splinter groups
  • Example: Rise of UKIP in European Parliament elections under PR, limited success in Westminster under FPTP

Electoral Systems: UK vs Devolved Administrations

Westminster and Devolved Parliaments

• UK Parliament uses FPTP for general elections
  • 650 constituencies, each electing one MP
  • Simplifies the electoral process for voters
• Scottish Parliament employs Additional Member System
  • 73 constituency MSPs elected via FPTP
  • 56 additional MSPs elected from regional lists to increase proportionality
• Welsh Assembly (Senedd) also uses AMS
  • 40 constituency members and 20 regional list members
  • Balances local representation with overall party proportionality
• Northern Ireland Assembly utilizes Single Transferable Vote
  • Promotes cross-community representation in a divided society
  • Voters rank candidates in multi-member constituencies

Local Government and Special Elections

• Local government elections vary across the UK:
  • England and Wales primarily use FPTP for local councils
  • Scotland and Northern Ireland employ STV for local elections
  • Reflects different priorities in local representation
• London Assembly uses AMS
  • 14 constituency members and 11 London-wide members
  • Ensures both local and city-wide representation
• Mayor of London elected using Supplementary Vote system
  • Aims to ensure broad support for the elected mayor
  • Similar system used for other directly elected mayors in England
• These variations demonstrate different representation and governance priorities
  • Reflect the diverse political landscapes across UK nations and regions
  • Allow for experimentation with different electoral systems