Electoral Reform

There are many different systems that could be used to elect MPs.  Some are better than the present first-past-the-post system.   The traditional system has become responsible for much of the apathy and distrust of politics that has so weakened people's faith in democracy.

The pros and cons of each system are explained impartially on the website of the Electoral Reform Society.

Voters Revolt makes no definite recommendation, but suggests one version which has many advantages. This page sets out the characteristics that any reformed system ought to have if our democracy is to regain its reputation.

- Above all, we must avoid the present damaging situation where 75% of electors feel that they might as well not have a vote, for all the influence they have on who forms the next Government.  In three quarters of the constituencies, the result is virtually certain before an election is called or a single vote cast.

- A reformed system should make MPs feel their livelihoods depend on their constituents, more than on the party machines.

- A party machine should not be able to guarantee its favourite candidates a virtually lifelong career.

- It should be easier for small parties and independents to win seats, without making every government a weak coalition.

- The numbers of MPs should more closely reflect the total votes cast for each party.

- Most MPs should be closely associated with a particular area.

- There should be no need for artificial tactical or negative voting.

The Suggested System of Voting

Voters Revolt suggests that the electoral system which gives the best compromise between these aims is  "Alternative Vote Plus" (AV+).  Alternative Vote Plus was the system proposed by the Independent Commission on the Voting System (which was chaired by Lord Jenkins of Hillshead) for use in UK General Elections. This should be the benchmark against which other alternatives are measured. It was to be put to the electorate in a referendum, but never was. Presumably it did not suit the interests of the party machines. Voters Revolt will aim to change that.

It would work like this.  The number of constituencies would be reduced by about a quarter, giving say 500 somewhat larger single-member constituencies.

These could be grouped in clusters of neighbouring constituencies, for instance all the constituencies in a city or a county area.  These groups would return another 100 or so MPs in such a way that the total number of MPs elected for each party would very broadly reflect the total votes cast for that party in each cluster of constituencies.

Voters would have two ballot papers to complete.  One would be a list of candidates for the constituency, to be marked in order of preference.  The other paper would be a list of candidates for the group of constituencies.  This would be marked with a single cross.

A constituency MP would be elected by gaining over 50% of the votes cast.  If at first no candidate has 50% of the votes, the ballot papers for the candidate with the least 'first preference' votes would be re-counted using their 'second preference' votes.  And so on, until one candidate has 50% of the votes.  This is the simple Alternative Vote system.

The votes tallied for each candidate in this way, aggregated within the group of constituencies, would give a total vote for each party.  The MPs elected so far for each party would not necessarily be proportionate to the party's total vote in the group.  In the Alternative Vote Plus system, a top-up formula using the second ballot papers would be used to bring the numbers of MPs more into line with the parties' total votes. 

This system uses "open party lists”, as opposed to "closed lists” which deny voters a chance to give support to individual party candidates. Closed lists give too much power of patronage to the party hierarchies.

Arguments used in favour

- In the constituencies, the winning candidate has the support of at least 50% of the voters.

- People can vote for the candidates of their choice without fear of wasting their votes.  A voter can vote for, say, the Purple Party, knowing that if the Purple Party candidate is not successful then their vote will transfer to their second preference. 

- Tactical voting is no longer needed.

- It is a broadly proportional system.

- In the top-up section, voters will be able to choose the best candidate to represent their party.

- Everyone will have an incentive to vote, because their vote will count.

Weaknesses

- Constituencies will be slightly larger than at present.

- There will be two categories of MPs.

Other Parliamentary reforms

Other reforms are needed in the parliamentary system. 

There is a gross disparity in the sizes of UK constituencies.  This can give one party a significant advantage equivalent to scores of seats.

There is the "West Lothian Question", which has arisen since devolution.  It is wrong that MPs for Scottish constituencies can cast crucial votes in the House of Commons on matters solely affecting England - but not vice versa.  This could be solved by setting up a separate English Parliament, but this has been criticised as cumbersome and expensive.  Alternatively, the Speaker could be given power to rule that a particular matter is an English question on which only MPs for English constituencies can speak or vote.

The vexed question of the powers and composition of the House of Lords has still to be settled after more than a century.  For democracy to function properly, without risking an 'elected dictatorship', we need a respected Second Chamber to balance the House of Commons, to protect constitutional principles and allow second thoughts on legislation.

Reform of the electoral and parliamentary systems has been identified by Voters Revolt as one of the biggest steps that must be taken to restore democracy. We are therefore demanding that the major parties include these reforms in their manifestos.

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$Updated: 01/04/06$