Electoral Reform

Background – Motivation/The need for reform?

• Both Labour and Lib Dems – advocated electoral reform in UK
• By 1960s it was firmly at the fore of the Liberals (later Lib Dems) agenda – because of decline in Liberalism since the 1920s under the First Past the Post system (FPP)
• A more proportional voting system could therefore work in their favour
• Labour also watched whilst the voting system tended to exaggerate support for the Conservatives – a long period in opposition = renewed interest in electoral reform
• Two groups = against electoral reform traditionally = Conservatives (argued that it enables decisive two party government) and most elements of the traditional left wing of the Labour party
• New Labour philosophy of the 1990s = modernising – but the party = split on the question
• Commissioned the Plant Committee whilst in opposition = recommended reform
• But still unconvinced Blair offered a referendum if Labour won in 1997 – they did but they did not give the referendum
• Jenkins report 1998 = advocated more radical reform than Plant = AV Plus – this got little support within the party and was shelved
• Labour in mid 90s assumed it would need support of Lib Dems to continue in power and therefore was prepared to entertain electoral reform as the price
• However – FPP began to benefit Labour 2001 – 40.7% = 62.6% seats, 2005 35.2% = 66 seat majority for Labour = therefore unenthusiastic for change
• The leadership of the Labour party was opposed to reform
• Results of 2005 election led to further demands for reform and Conservatives woke up to the idea that it would be of benefit to them

Reforms

• However, various forms of PR were steadily creeping into the system despite delays on decision re; overall voting system
• STV = NIA 1999 and Scottish Local elections 1997
• AMS (additional member system) Scottish Parliament 1999 Welsh Assembly 1999 and Greater London Assembly 2000
• Regional list system – EU parliament 1999
• Little progress = made by electoral reform movement in terms of general elections  since 1997 and prospects for future reform under the Labour Govt -were uncertain

What were the effects of the Reform?

• New voting systems = introduced across the country for various regional and sub national levels of govt

How successful has it been? – Praise/criticisms

• Criticised for not going further

Future

Coalition electoral reform:

• The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011-12 fixes the length of Parliamentary terms to 5 years.
• The Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 speeds up changes to the way people register to vote in Great Britain, moving from a Household Registration system to Individual Electoral Registration.
• Plan to introduce a power of recall, allowing voters to force a by-election where an MP is found to have engaged in serious wrongdoing and having had a petition calling for a by-election signed by 10% of his or her constituents.