Electoral Systems

FPTP

Plurality Voting system that requires no majority to win and is Actively used in General elections

FPTP Advantages

• Simplicity and clear outcome (2024 Election)

• Strong stable Government (Blair ,Starmer)

• MP’s represent Constituencies (Andrew Griffith)

• Difficult for extremist parties to gain power (UKIP)

FPTP Disadvantages

• Misrepresentation of votes (reform 2024 14%= 5 seats)

• Winners Bonus is undemocratic (2024 Labour 33% = 66% of seats)

• Safe seats

• Smaller parties suffer more

SV

Previously used for mayor elections the winner must get 50%,and voters get a 1st and 2nd choice if the majority isnt met the top candidates remain and 2nd votes are counted.

SV Advantages

• More Choice compared to FPTP

• Majority is required so its better representative of voters vote

• Fairly simple

SV disadvantages

• Reinforces 2 party system and can be a illusion towards choice with major parties

• Still potential for wasted votes

• could lead to extremism

STV

• Proportional system used in local Scotland elections and Northern Ireland assembly

• uses ‘droop quota’ to provide a proportional vote% to seat ratio

• voters order candidates in order of preference votes are counted in order 10-1 and the lowest in each round are eliminated from next rounds,

• Larger constituencies elect more than 1 representative

STV Advantage

• Fully proportional so democratic

• Multi Members constituencies technically improve voters choice

• More representation

STV disadvantage

• Complicated

• unlikely for single party Gov

• No local MP

• easier for extremism

AMS

Hybrid System (FPTP+STV) with 2 votes ,1 for constituency representative the other for Regions Party, used in Scottish Parliament currently

AMS Advantage

• More choice

• Tends to be proportional

• Greater representation

AMS disadvantage

• Tends to lead to coalitions

• can be disproportional as majority of seats are elected through FPTP system

What are Referendums?

• Form of Direct Democracy

• Held to determine specific political question

• Simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ answers

Scottish & Welsh devolution 1997

• Created National Legislation (Scottish Parliament & Welsh Senedd)

• Rise of national Parties

• Policy divergence (Scotland Free Uni tuition)

Good Friday Agreement 1998

• Peace between Ireland and Norther Ireland

• Enhanced Cooperation between the two over issue like trade, Environment

• Created Northern Ireland Assembly (Devolved Legislature)

AV 2011

• Referendum to Change the electoral system of General Elections

• Plurality → Majoritarian

• voters rank candidates in order of preference and first to 50% wins

• Rejected by public 67% to 32% showing heavy disinterest

Scottish Independence 2014

• Lead by SNP it was a Vote for Scotland to separate from UK

• Major Parties lead the “No Campaign” arguing for Scotland to remain for economic stability, defence, and international influence

• 85% Turnout and a 55% to 45% to remain

• Lead to more devolution to Scotland (Scotland act 2016)

Brexit 2016

• Choice to Leave or Remain in the European Union

• Lasted through 4 Conservative PM’s

• Dramatic political change in Parties ,voting Behaviour etc

• Gina Miller Cases

• 72% Turnout and ended 52% to 48% to leave