This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-39847512
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Why don't we elect MPs by proportional representation? | Why don't we elect MPs by proportional representation? |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| As the general election approaches, BBC News looks at why MPs are elected by the first-past-the-post system and not proportional representation. | As the general election approaches, BBC News looks at why MPs are elected by the first-past-the-post system and not proportional representation. |
| Reader Anthea Beszant was among those who asked about the voting system using this form for questions about the election, on 8 June. | Reader Anthea Beszant was among those who asked about the voting system using this form for questions about the election, on 8 June. |
| "As a 70+ age citizen of this country and having always voted I have never been directly represented in my entire life," she said. | "As a 70+ age citizen of this country and having always voted I have never been directly represented in my entire life," she said. |
| Currently under first past the post (FPTP), the candidate who receives the most votes in a local constituency wins a seat in the House of Commons. | Currently under first past the post (FPTP), the candidate who receives the most votes in a local constituency wins a seat in the House of Commons. |
| This means the number of seats each political party wins does not reflect its share of the vote nationally. | This means the number of seats each political party wins does not reflect its share of the vote nationally. |
| How did your constituency vote in 2015? | How did your constituency vote in 2015? |
| As to whether the public has an appetite to see the voting system change, a previous test of opinion in 2011 reflected the "public's attachment to FPTP", says Dr Matt Cole, teaching fellow in History at the University of Birmingham. | |
| "England has almost always voted by giving the seat to the person with the largest single number of votes," he said. | "England has almost always voted by giving the seat to the person with the largest single number of votes," he said. |
| "That's because our system has evolved from a time before mass party politics. | "That's because our system has evolved from a time before mass party politics. |
| "It was designed to choose community representatives - that's why it's called the House of Commons. | "It was designed to choose community representatives - that's why it's called the House of Commons. |
| "The most popular members of those communities were individuals representing key interests in their constituencies." | "The most popular members of those communities were individuals representing key interests in their constituencies." |
| Electoral reforms throughout history changed things like the number of MPs and constituencies but the FPTP System has remained unchanged, he said. | Electoral reforms throughout history changed things like the number of MPs and constituencies but the FPTP System has remained unchanged, he said. |
| What about proportional representation (PR)? | What about proportional representation (PR)? |
| PR is the idea that parties' seats in parliament should be allocated so that they are in proportion to the number of votes cast. | PR is the idea that parties' seats in parliament should be allocated so that they are in proportion to the number of votes cast. |
| At the 2015 general election, UKIP picked up nearly four million votes nationally, which would have given the party dozens of seats under PR. | At the 2015 general election, UKIP picked up nearly four million votes nationally, which would have given the party dozens of seats under PR. |
| However, under FPTP, it won only a single seat which was in Clacton. | However, under FPTP, it won only a single seat which was in Clacton. |
| Some 331 of 650 MPs elected in 2015 won their seat with less than half of the vote in their constituencies. | Some 331 of 650 MPs elected in 2015 won their seat with less than half of the vote in their constituencies. |
| Katie Ghose, from the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) which campaigns to change the way we vote, said Ms Beszant was not alone in her view. | Katie Ghose, from the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) which campaigns to change the way we vote, said Ms Beszant was not alone in her view. |
| "Millions of voters feel they are unrepresented in parliament - whether it is because they live in one of hundreds of 'safe seats' across the country, or because they feel forced to 'hold their nose' and opt for a 'lesser evil' rather than the party they truly support." | "Millions of voters feel they are unrepresented in parliament - whether it is because they live in one of hundreds of 'safe seats' across the country, or because they feel forced to 'hold their nose' and opt for a 'lesser evil' rather than the party they truly support." |
| Daniel Mahoney, from independent political think-tank the Centre for Policy Studies, said there were "key arguments" in favour of the FPTP system. | Daniel Mahoney, from independent political think-tank the Centre for Policy Studies, said there were "key arguments" in favour of the FPTP system. |
| "Power can change hands from one government to another quickly and effectively," said Mr Mahoney. | "Power can change hands from one government to another quickly and effectively," said Mr Mahoney. |
| "It also means that members of parliament - including government ministers - have a direct link to a constituency." | "It also means that members of parliament - including government ministers - have a direct link to a constituency." |
| Ms Ghose said the ERS had "seen our support surge in recent years". | Ms Ghose said the ERS had "seen our support surge in recent years". |
| She said: "After 100,000 signed the petition for fair votes earlier this year, pressure is mounting for real reform. | She said: "After 100,000 signed the petition for fair votes earlier this year, pressure is mounting for real reform. |
| "We are confident that it's not a matter of if, but when." | "We are confident that it's not a matter of if, but when." |
| Mr Mahoney said the FPTP system had "served British democracy well and is likely to continue to do so". | Mr Mahoney said the FPTP system had "served British democracy well and is likely to continue to do so". |
| He added: "The British public voted overwhelmingly to keep the current voting system and the result should be respected." | He added: "The British public voted overwhelmingly to keep the current voting system and the result should be respected." |
| The AV referendum | The AV referendum |
| In that 2011 test of public opinion, voters were given a referendum on whether to change the system to the alternative vote (AV). | In that 2011 test of public opinion, voters were given a referendum on whether to change the system to the alternative vote (AV). |
| Under AV, voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate is the first choice of more than 50% of voters, second, third and fourth preferences are distributed until one candidate has a majority. | Under AV, voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate is the first choice of more than 50% of voters, second, third and fourth preferences are distributed until one candidate has a majority. |
| Holding the referendum was part of the agreement between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats when they formed a coalition government. | Holding the referendum was part of the agreement between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats when they formed a coalition government. |
| The result was a resounding "no" from more than two thirds of people. | The result was a resounding "no" from more than two thirds of people. |
| The ERS, which saw it as a step towards "fairer votes", said though it was "not proportional representation". | The ERS, which saw it as a step towards "fairer votes", said though it was "not proportional representation". |
| What do you want to know about the general election? | What do you want to know about the general election? |
| Send us your questions in the form below: | Send us your questions in the form below: |