Evaluate The Argument That First Past The Post Is The Most Effective Electoral System Currently In Use In The United Kingdom

Introduction

• First Past The Post is the current electoral system used for UK Parliament elections and local council elections in England and Wales.

• It is a simple plurality system

• the system has come under particular scrutiny lately as the Gallagher Index, rated the 2024 General Election the least proportional election

Paragraph Focus

• Para 1 = FPTP vs Representation and Proportionality

• Para 2 = FPTP vs Voter Choice

• Para 3 = FPTP vs Type of Government Formed

Para 1 = Weaker Argument - Most Effective

• FPTP has many advantages which leads to public to support it

• This can be seen in the 2011 Alternative Vote Referendum where 68% of those who turned up voted against changing the electoral system to AV (a more proportional system)

• FPTP has a very strong MP-constituency link, which arguably delivers effective local representation

• Eg. in December 2023, 22 Conservative MPs supported a Labour amendment aimed at speeding up compensation for victims of the infected blood scandal, rebelling against a 3 line conservative whip to do so

• This is a good example of strong MP-constituency link and local representation under FPTP, as the rebels were influence by strong local movements and victims of the scandal in their constituency

Para 1 = Stronger Argument - Not the Most Effective

• The Single Transferable Vote System and the Additional Member System are much more proportional and representative electoral systems than FPTP.

• STV is the most proportional, due to its multi-member constituencies and the Droop Formula which allocates seats in an effective way that takes into account the preferences of all voters.

• For example, the Electoral Reform Society calculated that if STV had been used in the 2019 UK Parliament Elections, the Liberal Democrats (11.5% of the vote) would've received 59 seats instead of the 11 they received under FPTP

Para 2 = Weaker Argument - Most Effective

• Whilst FPTP may have limited voter choice, it is extremely easy to use for voters, who only have to select one candidate/party

• The result is also usually known early in the morning after polling day and the government is quickly formed

• In 2024, the first constituency result (Sunderland South) was announced at 23:15 on the day of the election

• the next morning, Starmer arrived at Downing Street as the new Prime Minister at 12:40pm the day after the election

Para 2 = Stronger Argument - Not the Most Effective

• Voter choice is higher in AMS, where voters get 2 votes: their first vote is like FPTP and is for a constituency representative, their second vote is for a party.

• This improves voters choice as it allows voters to split their ticket and support two different parties if they'd like. In particular, this can help minor parties who receive many more votes from the second party list vote.

• In the 2021 Scottish Parliament election for example, the Greens won just 1.29% of the constituency votes, but 8.12% of the top-up votes and got 8 seats.

Para 3 = Weaker Argument - Most Effective

• The key benefit of First Past The Post that is often cited is that it produces strong single-party governments that are able to pass laws effectively.

• These governments have a strong mandate and are able to carry out their programme of government and bring about effective change.

• In 2024, Starmer’s Labour Party won a 174 seat majority with just 33.7% of the popular vote, but there was limited public outrage and questioning of his mandate.

• This contrasts with more proportional electoral systems which are more prone to causing minority/coalition governments, which can be seen as weak as they are more likely to lead to compromised/watered down policies and struggle to implement significant changes

Para 3 = Stronger Argument - Not the Most Effective

• STV almost always leads to coalition governments, as it is designed to do so. Whilst this can be seen as a benefit in Northern Ireland as it brings rival groups together, it also leads to governments that are prone to conflict and indecision.

• The Northern Ireland Executive and Parliament has often been suspended for long periods of time due to the inability of parties to agree.

• STV doesn't just lead to coalitions in Northern Ireland, it also does so in Scottish Local Elections, where after the 2022 elections 94% of councils had no overall control.