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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| MPs reject bill to change Britain's voting system to proportional representation | MPs reject bill to change Britain's voting system to proportional representation |
| (3 days later) | |
| MPs have rejected a bill that would have changed Britain’s voting system to a form of proportional representation. | MPs have rejected a bill that would have changed Britain’s voting system to a form of proportional representation. |
| Green MP Caroline Lucas proposed the Electoral Reform Bill as a private members’ bill. | Green MP Caroline Lucas proposed the Electoral Reform Bill as a private members’ bill. |
| It would have amended the Representation of the People act to ensure that the House of Commons was elected using the Additional Member System – a proportional voting system. | It would have amended the Representation of the People act to ensure that the House of Commons was elected using the Additional Member System – a proportional voting system. |
| That system, currently used in Scotland, Wales, and London, would ensure that the seats in parliament broadly reflected the votes cast. | That system, currently used in Scotland, Wales, and London, would ensure that the seats in parliament broadly reflected the votes cast. |
| Currently, the House of Commons is elected using First Past the Post – producing overall results wildy out of line with the share of the vote cast. | Currently, the House of Commons is elected using First Past the Post – producing overall results wildy out of line with the share of the vote cast. |
| FPTP particularly penalises smaller parties; at the 2015 election a combined vote of almost 5 million secured just one seat each for the Green Party and UKIP. | FPTP particularly penalises smaller parties; at the 2015 election a combined vote of almost 5 million secured just one seat each for the Green Party and UKIP. |
| The Bill received cross party support but was ultimately voted down by 81 votes to 74. | The Bill received cross party support but was ultimately voted down by 81 votes to 74. |
| “The referendum made clear that people in Britain want to take back control of politics, after years of alienation,” Ms Lucas said ahead of the law’s presentation to MPs. | “The referendum made clear that people in Britain want to take back control of politics, after years of alienation,” Ms Lucas said ahead of the law’s presentation to MPs. |
| “This bill would crack open our broken electoral system and ensure the people views are properly represented in Parliament. | “This bill would crack open our broken electoral system and ensure the people views are properly represented in Parliament. |
| “By swapping to a proportional system people would be able to take power into their own hands and, like in the referendum, we’d have elections where every vote really counts. | “By swapping to a proportional system people would be able to take power into their own hands and, like in the referendum, we’d have elections where every vote really counts. |
| “The movement for a fairer voting system is stronger than ever – with support from across the Labour Party, UKIP, the SNP, the Lib Dems, Greens and people across the country.” | “The movement for a fairer voting system is stronger than ever – with support from across the Labour Party, UKIP, the SNP, the Lib Dems, Greens and people across the country.” |
| Wes Streeting, one of a number of Labour MPs who backed the bill, said after its defeat: “I believe our electoral system is broken and young people should be given vote at 16, so couldn't abstain on this Bill as requested.” | Wes Streeting, one of a number of Labour MPs who backed the bill, said after its defeat: “I believe our electoral system is broken and young people should be given vote at 16, so couldn't abstain on this Bill as requested.” |
| Other Labour MPs to back the bill included Jonathan Reynolds and Stella Creasy. The Liberal Democrats and Ukip have also long supported proportional representation. | Other Labour MPs to back the bill included Jonathan Reynolds and Stella Creasy. The Liberal Democrats and Ukip have also long supported proportional representation. |
| Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell earlier this year called for Labour to adopt proportional representation as a policy; there has so far been no official change, however. | Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell earlier this year called for Labour to adopt proportional representation as a policy; there has so far been no official change, however. |