Higher Modern Studies 15/06/2026 Democracy In Scotland/UK

Total number of members of the House of Commons

650

Total Number of members in the House of Commons

800 (No Max)

Number of Labour MPs in the UK

402

Number of Conservative MPs in the UK

116

Number of Liberal Democrat MPs in the UK

72

Number of SMP MPs in the UK

7

Number of Reform UK MPs in the UK

8

Number of Green MPs in the UK

5

The current size of the Government majority in the House of Commons.

650

Number/Percent of female MPs in the House of Commons

265 or 41% of Women

Number of female Lords in the House of Lords

273 or 36% of Women

Percent of ethnic minorities in the House of Commons

6%

Number of Ethnix minorities in the House of Lords

14%

Number of people who voted in the 2024 UK election

48,224,212

Percentage of people who voted in the 2024 UK election

59.7%

Percentage of the vote Labour received in the 2024 UK election

33.7%

Percentage of the vote The Liberal Democrats received in the 2024 UK election

12.2%

Percentage of the vote Reform UK received in the 2024 UK election

14.3%

Percentage of the vote The Conservatives received in the 2024 UK election

23.7%

Percentage of the vote the Greens received in the 2024 UK elections

6.7%

Percentage of the vote the SNP received in the 2024 UK election

2.5%

How many Labour PMs have there been?

7

How many Conservative PMs have there been?

20

Percentage of people who voted to leave the EU in 2016

51.9%

Percentage of people who voted to remain in the EU in

2016

48.1%

The safest Labour seat in the UK

Bootle (56.54%)

The least safe Labour seat in the UK

Hendon (0.04%)

The safest Conservative seat in the UK

Harrow East (24.4%)

The safest Conservative seat in the UK

Bastildon and Billericay (0.05%)

Number of Labour MPs in Scotland

37

Number of SNP MPs in Scotland

9

Example for FPTP being Fair

The person with the most votes wins - In 2024, the Labour Party received the most votes in the country and therefore won the election.

Example of FPTP being Unfair

People with less than 50% of the vote are selected, meaning the majority

Example of FPTP giving voters Choice

Bi-Elections allow voters to express their dissatisfaction - In May 2025, People in Runcorn and Helsby were asked to vote in a by-election to elect a new MP after the resignation of Labour MP Mike Amesbury. Even though this was the 16th safest Labour seat. Reform UK gained a seismic win, benefitting from unhappiness at the Labour government.

Example of FPTF not giving people choice

It forces people into tactical voting - For example, in a poll ran by YouGov in 2026. It was found that when asked, only 25% of Green voters said that they would stick with the Green Party if they believed only Reform or Labour could win in their local area.

Example of FPTP allowing for Representation

If allows people to grow a tight bond with their MP - For example, David Mundell has been the DCT MP since 2005, and has built an incredibly strong presence and relationship with the area, making him better able to represent its people and their views in parliament. This also improves accountability because voters can remove their MP if they are not doing a good job.

Examples of FPTP not allowing for representation

In reduces representation in minorities - Research from LSE shows that FPTP results in poorer representation for the young, females, religious minorities, LGBT individuals and people with disabilities. This can lead to parliament having less diversity and fewer voices arguing for different perspectives, which is bad for democracy.

Examples of the FPTP allowing for a strong and stable government

It gives the party in power lots of control to let decisions get through - For example, after 14 years of Conservative government, the UK now has a Labour government with a huge majority of 170. This gives Prime Minister Keir Starmer a strong mandate to make the changes he promised in the election. There is going to be little opportunity to stop the Labour government doing the things that it wants to do.

Examples of the FPTP allowing for a strong and stable government

It’s undemocratic - For example, even though the current Labour government won the 2024 win a majority of seats, they only received 34% of the seats.

Examples of the AMS system alowing for fairness

It ensures smaller parties are able to get a few seats

Examples that show that the AMS isn’t a fair political system

Examples of the AMS system allowing voters for more choice

Examples of the AMS system allowing voters less choice

Examples of the AMS allowing voters more representation

Examples of the AMS not allowing for representation

It gives party leaders a “back door” into government - In the most recent election the leaders of 4 of the 6 main parties all entered Holyrood via the regional list after failing to win a constituency.

Examples of the AMS system creating an effective government

It forces parties to co-operate - Although the SNP have been in power at Holyrood since 2007, only between 2011-2016 could they govern without the help of other parties.

Examples of the AMS not creating an effective government

It forces larger parties to appeal to smaller parties - Many have speculated that policies such as the Bottle Deposit Scheme and the Gender Self-ID legislation where policies that were rushed through by the SNP government to keep their Green partners on board.