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Key Issues for the New Parliament 2010 THE NEW PARLIAMENT House of Commons Library Research

referendum on introducing AV were withdrawn in the ‘wash-up’ period before the election, to allow less contentious provisions to be enacted. Electoral reform Under the AV system, voters rank candidates in order of preference. The winning candidate must have 50% of the votes so the votes for lower-placed candidates are distributed in succession until Isobel White one candidate has more than 50%. The constituency link characteristic of the current first-past-the- post (FPTP) system is retained. The AV system is not a proportional voting system, but a majoritarian The hung parliament has put electoral reform at the forefront of the political agenda one. Critics point to the fact it can produce an even more disproportionate distribution of votes into seats than FPTP.

All the major parties have proposed some form for England noted that the rules for the Different electoral systems produce very different results: of electoral reform. However, the nature of redistribution of seats are unsatisfactory and Estimates of 2010 result using different systems, no behavioural change those proposed reforms and the implications called for a full review of the legislation. for the House of Commons differ greatly. The Committee on Standards in Public Life FPTP AV AV+ STV Pure PR has also called for a review and subsequent amendments to legislation before the CONSERVATIVES: FEWER MPS commencement of the sixth general review, David Cameron said in 2009 that politicians due around 2012. had to “play our part and take a lead” in There were large disparities in constituency cutting public spending. He proposed that electorates at the 2010 general election. The the number of MPs should be cut from 650 to largest constituency was the Isle of Wight with 585 and that constituency electorates should 109,902 electors, more than five times the be equalised across the UK; they currently tend smallest, 21,780 in Na h-Eileanan an Iar. to be lower in Wales, Northern Ireland and in urban areas. To implement these changes, a Critics of the Conservative plans claim they Each column represents 325 House of Commons seats - half of the total Electoral Reform Society estimates boundary review under new rules would be are motivated by self-interest, suggesting conducted within five years. that areas with low constituency electorates currently tend to coincide with low AVthe plus current first-past-the-post (FPTP) system is for elected candidates and votes for the least Conservative support. These areas would tend retained. The AV system is not a proportional popular candidates are redistributed according BOUNDARY COMMISSION REVIEWS to lose MPs under the plans. Thevoting Independent system, but a majoritarianCommission one. on Criticsthe Voting toSystem voter preference. (Jenkins Commission), set up in 1997, Under the Parliamentary Constituencies recommendedpoint to the fact a it mixed can produce voting an system, even more ‘AV plus’. SupportersSome MPs of would STV say be there elected are fewerusing ‘wastedAV, with the rest Act 1986, as amended by the Boundary LABOUR: AV beingdisproportionate ‘topped up’ distribution from regional of votes lists into to seatsbring morevotes’ proportionality. under the system than FPTP and that it than FPTP. Commissions Act 1992, the Boundary Labour has proposed a non-partisan retains the opportunity for voters to evaluate Commissions for England, Scotland, Wales Parliamentary Boundary Review to examine Liberal Democrats: STV individual candidates. It also produces a more and Northern Ireland are required to the rules for the redistribution of seats, AV PLUS proportional result than AV - though not as conduct simultaneous general reviews of all together with a referendum on introducing TheThe LiberalIndependent Democrats Commission favour on the the SingleVoting Transferableproportional Vote (STV as party) system list systems. and 150 Critics fewer say MPs . Under constituencies every 8 to 12 years. The fifth the system is too complicated to understand the Alternative Vote (AV) system for STVSystem, voters (Jenkins rank Commission), candidates setin upmulti in 1997,-member constituencies. The winning candidates must reach a periodical review was completed in 2008. elections to the Commons. Provisions in the recommended a mixed voting system, ‘AV and that the link between an individual MP and The Boundary Commissions have to ensure Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill to certainplus’. Some quota MPs of wouldvotes inbe orderelected to using be elected AV, andtheir the constituencysurplus votes is lost. for electedAdvocates candidates of FPTP and votes that the new constituency electorates are as hold a referendum on introducing AV were forwith the the least rest beingpopular ‘topped candidates up’ from are regional redistributed argue according that proportional to voter preference. voting systems lead to close as possible to the electoral quota, the withdrawn in the ‘wash-up’ period before the lists to bring more proportionality. weak and indecisive government. average number of electors per constituency. election, to allow less contentious provisions to Supporters of STV say there are fewer ‘wasted votDifferentes’ under electoral the system systems than produce FPTP very and that it retains The electoral quotas for the fifth general review be enacted. theLIBERAL opportunity DEMOCRATS: for voters STV to evaluate individualdifferent candidates. election It results. also produces Electoral asystems more proportional were 69,935 for England and Scotland; 55,640 Under the AV system, voters rank candidates The Liberal Democrats favour the Single were prominent in the political negotiations in for Wales and 60,969 for Northern Ireland. result than AV - though not as proportional as party list systems. Critics say the system is too in order of preference. The winning candidate Transferable Vote (STV) system and 150 fewer the days following the general election. The There are additional rules regarding local complicated to understand and that the link between an individual MP and their constituency is lost. must have 50% of the votes so the votes for MPs. Under STV, voters rank candidates in consequences of the debate could define the authority boundaries, total numbers of seats lower-placed candidates are distributed in Advocatesmulti-member of FPTP constituencies. argue that The proportional winning votingcourse systems of UKlead politics to weak for decadesand indecisive to come. government. and special geographical considerations. succession until one candidate has more than candidates must reach a certain quota of votes In its fifth review, the Boundary Commission 50%. The constituency link characteristic of Differentin order to electoralbe elected andsystems the surplus produce votes very different election results. Electoral systems were prominent in the political negotiations in the days following the general election. The consequences 16 of the debate could define the course of UK politics for decades to come. 17

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