CommonSpace columnist Richard McGinley argues that hung parliaments will become a more permanent fixture under the first-past-the-post voting system because it no longer reflects an evolving society
THE current electoral system used to decide who will govern from Westminster could be about to show us why it’s an ineffectual and outdated method, and has little or no chance of producing a stable and effective majority government.
The polls are indicating that neither of the two main parties will win enough seats to form a government by themselves, which in turn means that they will need to seek support from smaller parties to form another coalition.
This means that it won’t be the people who choose who governs, but the politicians, as in 2010 when David Cameron and Nick Clegg thrashed out the deal which put them in power.
This means that it won’t be the people who choose who governs, but the politicians.
But aren’t we supposed to choose our leaders ?
First-past-the-post (FPTP) works best when there are just two parties, which is why neither of them has sought any kind of change, as no-one will climb to the top and then kick away the ladder that took them there.
With the SNP quite likely to hold the balance of power after next month, the question is, who will they support? And what if no-one wants their support?
Intriguingly, what if Cameron and Ed Miliband decide that they don’t want to bother with anyone else, and go ahead and form a “grand coalition”, effectively rendering the election a complete waste of time?
It’s not impossible, and some would argue that it’s more than likely given that the two parties are virtually unrecognisable from each other anyway, and it gives them the added bonus of removing any credible opposition.
If that sounds a little crazy, or perhaps even a little paranoid, have a glance around the world at a couple of other countries who also operate FPTP. One of the main arguments in favour of the system is that it prevents coalitions – except thats not the case.
India, for instance, is currently governed by a coalition. Three successive elections have led to hung parliaments in Canada, while New Zealand and Australia also have coalitions in charge.
Anyone spot the connection?
Realistically, only voters in marginal constituencies have any real say in the outcome.
There are a number of problems with the system. Realistically, only voters in marginal constituencies have any real say in the outcome. That’s why you find party leaders out kissing babies at every opportunity in those areas, while the safe seats are largely ignored.
It’s easy to understand why, but in a country of 62 million people, it means that only a select few can say that their votes truly count.
Then there are parties such as the Liberal Democrats, the SNP, Plaid Cymru, all of whom will have plenty of voters throughout the country, but will lack a proportionate number of seats in the House.
This in turn means that even a majority government won’t have the support of the majority of the people. A minority government even less, which points in the direction of the Grand Coalition as a solution to solve all the ills of the nation caused by years of neglect.
Nice work if you can get it.
It’s time for change, not just in the faces of the government, but in the way that we choose them.
The very people who have made the mess that we are in will be allowed to carry on regardless, with virtually no way of stopping them. That’s despite proving that they don’t actually have any aptitude for the job.
It’s time for change, not just in the faces of the government, but in the way that we choose them.
Whoever gets a chance to wield any control over one of the big parties, should a Grand Coalition not happen, must push for radical change in the way we choose those who decide our standard of living.
First-past-the-post is no longer suitable for the society we live in. We’re too diverse, we have too many different needs and expectations, and we need to make sure that everyone gets a say in how it’s done.
I’ve even thought of a word for a new way of doing things… democracy.
Picture courtesy of secretlondon123