Proprtional Representation - some good news

Well when we had a referendum on this back in 2011 hardly anyone turned out to vote.

FPTP isn't perfect by any means but not sure PR has as much support as you think.

Look at France- what a pickle they're in.

The 'PR' offered in 2011 was not a good version. Cameron only went forward with a referendum to keep the Liberal party with whom the tories were in coalition happy.

I think we must know by now that referendums aren't a good idea...

I have just had a look at the percentages each party won in the last GE.

Reform came third, under PR they would have more representation than the Lib Dem’s, Labour would not have such a vast majority.

Not sure Labour will take this any further.

Yes, I saw that - excellent news. Even if it doesn't come into being, at least our electoral system will be discussed.

GrannyGravy13

I have just had a look at the percentages each party won in the last GE.

Reform came third, under PR they would have more representation than the Lib Dem’s, Labour would not have such a vast majority.

Not sure Labour will take this any further.

Of course they won't. They know they'll lose even more votes under this . Aren't we the only country who has first past the post??

I used to be very pro PR but when I see some of the mess countries are in - continually re negating alliances - it would depend for me I think what sort of PR offered that could offer enough stability.

No system is perfect but PR is much fairer than FPTP as it reflects the actual votes of the people more accurately. The 2 big parties have nit supported it in the past because FPTP gives them more power and keeps the smaller parties out of it.

We have PR in Scotland and it seems very complicated. You know who your constituency MSP is but then you have 7 regional ones and I have little idea as to whom they are or what they do! Because of the way the list works you seem to get some Regional MSPs you have never heard of.

I like PR, in principle, but would hate to see it implemented clumsily and in haste.

We need to be very clear about how it works.

I do it’s a fairer way of counting votes and represents our entire views, maybe it is time to come away from a two party system.

Sadly the Con/Lib coalition has put me off coalitions, though if there was a way of having a three way coalition Lib/Lab/Green I’d support this.

I’m sure there’s just as many Tories worried about PR as Labour, both voters and MPs.

GrannyGravy13

I have just had a look at the percentages each party won in the last GE.

Reform came third, under PR they would have more representation than the Lib Dem’s, Labour would not have such a vast majority.

Not sure Labour will take this any further.

I believe the number of Reform MPs would be about 93 if we had PR.
Not sure about the Lib Dems but they have 72? MPs this time.

It was passed with a narrow margin but is unlikely to become law.

A case of be careful what you wish for.

It’s interesting that it has passed its first vote.
In general, major parties only think it’s a good idea when they’re not in power so it’s unlikely to go any further.

There are only two European countries which elect governments by the undemocratic,critical FPTP - UK and Belarus

I’ve got big reservations about PR, as I’ve said previously when it’s been discussed. No party in the UK ever gets over 50% of the total vote in general elections, so from now on every government would be a coalition, which results in a lack of direction and slow decision making. It also results in MPs representing regions, not local people/issues, because to get the split of MPs correct between the parties that’s the only way it can be done.

Look at France - what a pickle they're in exactly keepingquiet.

I lived in Suffolk for over 20 years in a Tory safe seat. This meant that I was without representation. When we arrived John Selwyn Gummer was the MP and he was a hard worker for the constituents. His replacement Therese Coffey was no where near as good as far as I'm aware but we had left before she was elected.

I spent some time last year campaigning for Make Votes Matter as I am so cross that my vote in a safe Tory seat is totally wasted. I could go on.... but with the rise in Reform, I'm really having doubts about PR now!

keepingquiet

Well when we had a referendum on this back in 2011 hardly anyone turned out to vote.

FPTP isn't perfect by any means but not sure PR has as much support as you think.

Look at France- what a pickle they're in.

I agree! I wouldn’t want that here in the UK.

UK and Belarus are only two in Europe

MaizieD

The 'PR' offered in 2011 was not a good version. Cameron only went forward with a referendum to keep the Liberal party with whom the tories were in coalition happy.

I think we must know by now that referendums aren't a good idea...

They seem to work well in Switzerland

As Maizie said, the previous referendum on PR was not properly handled - many of the political commentators said that the type of voting system put forward was a very bad choice.

And my recollection is that there was very little time to find out how the PR system being put forward would operate - the pros and cons. It is such a drastic change in our voting system that there should be a lengthy lead in time before a vote, a choice as to the system adopted, and lots of programmes giving information as to the different voting systems being put forward. To me, that seems like quite a challenging set of requirements.

Our system often seems unfair in many ways, but other systems may be quite dangerous in allowing extreme groups to hold other parties to ransom or in creating a stalemate situation where chaos ensues.

EEJit

MaizieD

The 'PR' offered in 2011 was not a good version. Cameron only went forward with a referendum to keep the Liberal party with whom the tories were in coalition happy.

I think we must know by now that referendums aren't a good idea...

They seem to work well in Switzerland

Voter participation in Switzerland is very low.

Smileless2012

^Look at France - what a pickle they're in^ exactly keepingquiet.

But then you could look at the USA, didn’t Hillary Clinton had nearly 2.9 more votes than Trump?

As for France, it is a bit crazy at the moment but I have faith (maybe it’s misplaced) in Macron. We will see in March.

However, I do like the French system of voting twice.

OldFrill

EEJit

MaizieD

The 'PR' offered in 2011 was not a good version. Cameron only went forward with a referendum to keep the Liberal party with whom the tories were in coalition happy.

I think we must know by now that referendums aren't a good idea...

They seem to work well in Switzerland

Voter participation in Switzerland is very low.

Switzerland has referendums on something or other every year

If you want a really good example of PR in practice Israel, the minority religious parties hold the country to ransome.