Wouldn't this be a good time for the government to introduce proportional representation?

Question

Now that Labour are down in the poll, and the Tories are raising from their ashes, wouldn't it be a good idea for the government to reform the electoral system and introduce proportional representation therefore creating the possibility for a Labour-LibDem government after the next elections instead of heading for a near-certain Tory government?

Can they do that?

There might be logistical hurdles to that, I don't know, but isn't that the best course of action at this point?

Britain should introduce proportional representation, you'd have a government that represents a larger portion of the population and I think the LibDem deserve a shot at proper government.

Answer 1

What happened to the the democratic idea of people voting for a person to represent their area in Parliament?

It's exactly because people vote for party labels that we are in a mess.

Answer 2

PR always was the most democratic method, but there are two main problems.  One is that it would be unlikely we would ever see a single party government again, and two, as a consequence of that...once changed it is highlty unlikely it would ever be changed back as the rulers at any one time woud be putting themselves out of power.

So short term it looks attractive...long term, no politician in his right mind would want it.

Answer 3

It would seem like a good idea IF at least 90% of the electorate bothered to vote.

There should not be as many Members  for us to pay  and keep  in the style of their choosing either.

Answer 4

Well firstly, which version of PR?

Secondly, FPTP has its benefits - it's simple, and tends to bring about a straightforward majority government.  Its curse, of course, is that this majority can be massive, and it rarely represents accurately the political views of the population.

On the other hand PR has its problems too.

FPTP does *tend* to return majority governments, and that government will be of the party which won the most (plurality) mosts - and this is the system the British tend to understand. Coalitions are, historically, alien to Britain, at least in the 20th and 21st Centuries, and minority government would likely be the norm in a PR Westminster.

In addition, coalitions can also mean huge majorities, and depending on the country could either be enormously unstable (Italy), or damned well near impossible to dislodge (Germany, Sweden), making government alternatively more difficult, or even harder to remove.

Also, coalitions mean back doors deals, and may not end up representing the sentiments of the nation when they finally form a government - the Greens in power in Germany, for example (took many by surprise), or the Freedom Party in Austria. Or, it could mean no agreement at all - Belgium and Holland have had very long period (almost a year!) without a government because their parties could not agree on the terms.

Furthermore, it would probably mean an expanded role for the monarchy in Britain for minority/coalition governments to become much more frequent, and while I do not necessarily oppose this, it's not something the monarchy (or indeed, the entire political climate) is really used to, and could mean a lot of teething problems, chaos, until it settles, in a decade or two's time.

I'm in two minds overall, but I don't think PR is something easily suitable for the culture and constitution of the UK.  Some reform could be envisioned, perhaps to AV, but I think PR would become a cascade towards a crisis.

Answer 5

It would only benefit the minority parties who have dreams of achieving power by supporting one of the main parties if there is a closely fought election result.

Answer 6

No!Keep first past the post!!