The UK uses a variety of electoral systems –
But fails to provide proportionality where it matters most - Discuss

Written by Robert Taylor (December 2006

Introduction –
 In the UK many different electoral methods are used to decide who gets to govern Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. I am going to discuss these different methods and how it can be seen that even though there are these different methods in place, proportionality isn’t provided where it matters most.

The UK –
 In the UK there are many electoral methods in place but this didn’t happen until after 1997. After the devolution of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, assemblies have been set up in these countries. Since Labour came to power, many different voting systems have been introduced to these assemblies. However, by introducing new voting systems and new assemblies, does this really mean that people are being better represented?

Scottish Parliament –
 In Scotland, the core Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) are elected through a First Past the Post system (FPTP). This, in reality means that 73 out of the 129 MSPs are elected in the same way that MPs are elected to Westminster. The remainder of seats go towards 56 other candidates that have been drawn from a list made by the parties and are voted by the electorate in a second ballot, using the d’Hondt formula, also called the Additional Member System. The reason that this method is used is that it is supposed to allow smaller parties to gain some representation in a more proportionate way. This seems to be the case with most voters as they use their second vote to vote for minor parties that wouldn’t stand a real chance in winning the main election. By doing this, proportionality is meant to be shown more apparently in the Scottish Parliament, but is this where the proportionality really matters most? Some may argue that, if proportionality is shown in one region, it is likely to have impact on the rest of the country. However, the majority would argue that the majority of all decisions made that affect the whole of the UK are made in Westminster, in the House of Commons.

Westminster –
 In Westminster, or the House of Commons, a FPTP system is used in order to decide who gets a seat in the House of Commons. This system has been regarded by some as unfair on smaller parties who have thinly spread support, and on third parties as a FPTP system tends to favour a two-party system. Westminster is regarded as the most important place for political discussion, as this is, not only where the Prime Minister lives, but where the leading parties meet up to make decisions affecting the whole of the UK. Surely if this is the place where proportionality matters most, it would be a better idea to use a system that encourages proportional representation. Labour saw that the need of an electoral reform was ever increasing the continuous defeats they faced against the Conservative party. Between 1978 and 1992, Conservatives had consecutively won every general election, so Neil Kinnock, leader of the Labour Party, launched a committee to investigate the different methods available and where they could be applicable. Professor Raymond Plant led this investigation and concluded that Scotland should be devolved and then to use a mixture of FPTP and AMS. This was accepted by both leaders and was put into practice. However, the report also suggested that elections to Westminster used the Single Transferable Vote method. This was greeted with less favour than the other suggestions and was not enforced or put into place. Despite this, John Smith, Kinnock’s successor, did say that he would hold a referendum on electoral reform for Westminster.

Proportionality in the UK –
 Despite the lack of enthusiasm and steam that the electoral reform to Westminster received, the National Assembly for Wales uses a mixture of FPTP in single member constituencies and there are also five multi-member constituencies. This shows more proportionality in these five constituencies, but not for the whole of the National Assembly. Another Assembly which uses a more proportional representative electoral system is the Greater London Assembly. This assembly uses an Additional Member System to elect 11 of the members. This is supposed to more accurately reflect society and the values of all those in it by representing more political parties. Another way in which proportionality has been added at a European level is how we elect members of the European Parliament. Previously a FPTP system was used but now a Closed List system is used with Proportional Representation being used to determine who gains a voice in the European Parliament. This meant that smaller minority parties like UKIP and the Green party. Surely this does allow smaller parties to be heard, but the most important place for this to be seen is in Westminster and it hasn’t happened. This may be due to the fact that most people see that a radical change to the current system, as the parties stand, would ruin the years of control that some parties have taken over Westminster.

Proportionality in London –
 The most prolific case of proportionality being shown in London would have to be how the Mayor of London (and other mayors) is elected directly in a Supplementary Vote method. The Mayor of London is possibly the most powerful mayor in the UK and he/she is now elected in a proportionate way. Despite this however, the Supplementary Vote system is still a majoritarian way of voting.

Conclusion –
 Although changes to the elections in Wales and Scotland have taken place, a real change hasn’t happened in London. This is where all major decisions that regard the whole UK are made and only changes to the ways in which Mayors are elected have changed. If proportionality was to really actually matter this would mean a change in the electoral reform that grants seats in Westminster. With the current system, only two parties have been allowed to actually run the country since 1945. Surely this two-party system does not show any proportionality in the part of the country where it matters most.