The two party system is finished

Oh I am not in favour of PR casdon, I have always been indifferent to be honest, but I think not wanting it because reform might get in is interesting.

We have a regional system in the UK and the regions are still not content

Galaxy

Yes only let people have their say if it is the answer you want.

People don’t have their say with either system. Regional representation is how PR is achieved, which loses the local voice, so important in politics. If there is a good system which enables everybody to have their voice I haven’t heard of it yet.

That's not democracy is it. Avoiding implementing a voting system because people won't vote the way 'you' want them to. Five minutes ago people wanted PR - ( mainly because they saw the lib dems as the third party) it looks a little hypocritical to me.

Galaxy

Yes only let people have their say if it is the answer you want.

Cameron got that wrong

Yes only let people have their say if it is the answer you want.

Before you get enthusiastic about PR, with that system at the 2024 election we would have a hung parliament with Tories plus Reform having real power.

Personally I think the present government is more preferable to that chaotic prospect

Yes, this seems to be the case Cumbrianmale56 and I think it is a natural progression.
The same is happening here in Australia, democracy is evolving and alternatives to the two party system is a good start.
Personally I have always been a swing voter, in fact I find those people rusted on to one particular party are often missing the point. Elections are an opportunity for the people to voice what is important at a particular time.

The stranglehold Unions had on the Left and the influence Big Business had on the Right is diminished as people are better educated and able to consider and articulate their opinions and ideas.

We have two systems of voting in Australia, with preferential voting used in the House of Representatives and proportional representation is the method used in the Senate. I think this helps balance the system.

We also have compulsory voting.

Tactical voting has resulted in the shambolic government we have at present, and a parliament full of inexperienced
mediocrities; proportional representation would mean no clear leadership, coalition government and an inordinate length of time before a government is formed. The only time coalition governments work is when a country is facing a common enemy.

It’s not the consensus though.
yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/51504-do-britons-support-shifting-to-proportional-representation
I’ve got very mixed feelings about PR, but having experienced it in Wales, on balance I would vote against it if there was a ballot.

Cumbrianmale56

ayse

But it still needs to be reflected in the elections. PR would be a reasonable solution. The New Zealand system seems to work quite well.

No system is perfect either but FPTP seems the least democratic.

First past the post has held back alternatives to the Tories and Labour for decades and meant we have the ridiculous situation last year where a government was elected by a landslide with only a third of the vote. PR would mean political parties would have to work together and people would feel their vote was more valued. Only the UK in Europe persists with first past the post.

Yes, I agree. I seem to remember the Labour Party conference agreed that we should go down the PR route but the leadership doesn’t do anything. Last time we voted about PR it wasn’t PR imo. The electorate needs to demand!

Trouble is, the two main parties would have to agree to change the system, and that is not in either of their interests

ayse

But it still needs to be reflected in the elections. PR would be a reasonable solution. The New Zealand system seems to work quite well.

No system is perfect either but FPTP seems the least democratic.

First past the post has held back alternatives to the Tories and Labour for decades and meant we have the ridiculous situation last year where a government was elected by a landslide with only a third of the vote. PR would mean political parties would have to work together and people would feel their vote was more valued. Only the UK in Europe persists with first past the post.

But it still needs to be reflected in the elections. PR would be a reasonable solution. The New Zealand system seems to work quite well.

No system is perfect either but FPTP seems the least democratic.

The two party system is finished

I so hope so.
Been hoping for a couple of decades at least.

Not so sure though.
People say in the past, no point voting for anyone else, as a lost vote.
I suspect a lot of people are still in that same mindset.

The two main parties are so similar now, people are looking for something different in both directions