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Elections and Referendums - Coggle Diagram
Elections and Referendums
FPTP
Candidate with largest number of votes wins the seat.
There is no electoral reward for anyone other than the winner.
Divided into 650 constituencies, it is possible for parties to gain a large number of votes but have few or no MPs.
Not proportional, exaggerates performance of winning party, wasted votes, disincentivises supporters of smaller parties limiting political participation, clear and decisive results, every constituency has representation, no choice within party, fair range of parties represented in parliament simple to understand.
Party List Proportional Representation
Each area is bigger, electing a group of MPs more reflective of how the areas voted.
26 large constituencies each electing 25 MPs.
The parties rank their candidates in each area, so the highest ranked candidates of the main parties would almost certainly get elected.
This was used for European elections. MEPs were elected on the basis of their share of the vote, allocated seats in each round , each party’s votes at the start of one process is divided by the number of seats already won. The party with the highest remaining total wins the seat in that round.
Very proportional, less chance of wasted votes, turnout is historically low despite vote value, no one party secures majority, not representative, can transfer huge power to central party, wider range of candidates can be elected, cumbersome not easy.
Additional Member Systems
Mix of List PR and FPTP
Elects members of the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments and the London Assembly.
Voters have two ballots and two votes. First is a list of candidates to be a constituency representative. The second is list of parties in that region for election.
Regional list representatives ‘top up’ any under representation from the constituency results.
This is a more proportional result than single-member constituencies seats elected by FPTP.
Proportional, less wasted votes, no boast of turnout ,almost guarantees a minority government, offers local links but could create a two tier system of elected representatives, those top up’ lacking a direct mandate, more power to central parties, third partie shave better representation, more complicated
Single Transferrable Vote
Used for European elections in NI and Scottish local council elections. Multi-member constituencies voters rank their choices in order of preference. A candidate who has more first preference votes than the quota is immediately elected.
Surplus votes are transferred to other candidates in proportion to the second preference marked on the ballots received by that candidate. If more candidates than seats remain , the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Their votes are transferred to other candidates determined by the voters’ second preference. Continues until all seats are filled.
Accurately reflect, recused wasted votes,, no correlation with turnout, as NI has higher turnout anyway, produces coalition governments, good local links, choice of candidates , better vote value means increased participation, not easy,
Alternative Vote
Used for the election of chairs to select committees.
The voter adds a number by the name of each candidate, one for their favourite, two for their second…
Similar to STV but Av retains single member constituencies with no quota. If more than half of the votes are gathered by a candidate the candidate is elected. If nobody gets half, The candidate who was last gets eliminated. Second choice votes are then distributed, repeated until one candidate gets over half.
Key Issues and Debates with Various Electoral Systems
Debate over Electoral Reform
Make Votes Matter was a cross party pressure group who campaigned for a proportional, not majoritarian electoral system for UK general elections.
Proportionality
Vote value
Promoting participation
Strong and accountable government
Local links
Party representation
Comprehensibility
Should the UK replace FPTP for Westminster elections?
Yes
Other electoral systems better reflect vote share
The UK is the only country in Europe to use FPTP
Does not always result in strong single party governemnts as seen in 2017
Many single-party governments are voted in on a low share of the vote
Conservatives 2015 with 37% of the overall vote
Encourages tactical voting, particularly in marginal constituencies.
Many MPs are elected without support of. A majority of their constituents.
No
Traditionally produced strong and stable governments.
Easy to understand and familiar with voters.
Enables a strong link between MPs and their constituents.
Also used in the USA, arguably the most significant democrat in the world.
Favouring a poltiical culture on two dominant parties, it forces those parties to have a broad appea and basis of support, resembling internal coalitions.
Key Elections
1983
Context, Background and Result
Rising unemployment and a military victory in the 1982 Falklands War
Represented one of Labour’s worst ever defeats, Conservatives increase in their majority from 43 in 1979 to 144.
Largely due to a divided opposition, with the Social Democratic Party in 1981, which went on to threaten Labour as the Liberal Democrats in 1988.
In a large number of constituencies, the SDP- Liberal Alliance handed previous Labour seats to the Conservatives
Labour came third or worse in 292 of 650 constituencies.
Arguably, those who voted Alliance would have voted Conservative anyway, depriving the Conservatives of an even greater majority.
Swing of 3.8% from Labour to Conservatives, although the Conservative vote fell by 1.5%
Role of the media
A hardened ‘Maggie Cult’ and equally effective criticism for Labour Leader Michael Foot.
The Sun
’Vote for Maggie’
’Do you Seriously Want this Old Man to Run Britain’
Thatcher came across well in TV interviews, whereas MIchael Foot was less adept at sharp, pithy sound bites.
Significance of Manifestos
Labour
Too left-wing ‘longest suicide note in history’
Split over nuclear disarmament
Abolition of the House of Lords
Withdrawal from the European Community
Conservative
More radical in second term.
Promised trade union reform
Expand privatisation
Equally ideological as Labour’s, but Thatcher had greater control over her party with an 8 year leadership than Foot.
Called an early election.
Modern and effective campaigning, journeying across the nation connecting with general public securing better publicity.
‘Patriotic card’ as foreign policy and defence emerges as a key issue in place of public services and the economy.
Retain UK’s nuclear deterrent, in full support of NATO and a tough line against the USSR.
SDP-Liberal Alliance
Promised to reduce unemployment and reform the electoral system to proportional representation , advocating devolution.
The Impact of Leadership and the Election Campaign
In the 4 months prior to election being announced, Thatcher took part in 16 TV interviews.
Foot was widely too left-wing and ill-suited to leading his own party let alone the country, similar to Corbyn.
Election effect on policy-making
Huge commons majority enabled them to push through policies such as further privatisation.
Confidence against miners’ union left deep legacy of bitterness towards Tories in many mining communities.
Chaos in Labour endured until Blair in 1997.
Scale of defeat resulted in a venture towards the centre, to amke itself electable again, culminating in New Labour
The Significance of the Electoral System
Clearest example of FPTP punishing third parties
23% of seats in parliament were held by MPs who would not have been elected in a proportional system.
Alliance won 25% of the vote, winning only 3.5% of seats, 186 less than Labour
Ability to command a strong majority threatened by such policies causing immense polarisation.
1997
Context, Background and Result
Landslide waiting to happen but unlike 1983, resulted in a change of government.
Blair decisively defeated John Major’s Tories, ending an 18 year period of Conservative rule.
Major elected leader in 1990, won surprise election in 1992, with overall majority cut to 21, by 1997 leading a minority government
Party deeply divided over Europe, facing an invigorated Tony Blair and Labour (Clause IV rewritten against wholesale renationalisation and unilateral nuclear disarmament)
Conservative’s 4th term where the economy had been in recession and unemployment had risen, diminishing reputation for financial competence.
Major’s ‘Back to basics’ undermined by MP scandals against traditional; values of moral propriety and honesty
Conservatives lost over half of their seats, doing particularly poorly in London,
Record number of 120 women elected as MPs, 101 representing Labour.
Role of the Media
Political preference of proprietors is not necessarily reflected in tabloids, likely to back the winner.
In 1997, the Sun switched allegiances
The Significance of Manifesto
Labour
Policy modernisation and change
Rights to benefits came with repsonsibility
’Tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime’
Modernised comprehensive education
Income tax would not be raised and a national minimum wag would be introduced.
Conservatives
Emphasis on continuity and security
Publish school exam results and encourage more academic selection at secondary level.
Extension of privatisation
No major constituional reform
Pledged to reduce nome tax to 20% and lower business taxes.
The Impact of Leadership and the Election Campaign
Election for Labour to lose
Key aides such as Alistair Campbell committed to New Labour and media-savvy.
Blair was charasmatic, energetic and young, complete contrast to Major.
Major suffering an image problem, and deep party divisions
Conservative’s campaign focused on attacking Blair, often personally
‘Demon Eyes’ poster (New Labour New Danger) with 64% of the public disapproving of this poster campaign.
Blair was publicly educated, attending Oxford
Deputy leader john Prescott hailed from working-class background, failing the 11+.
How the Election Affected Policy-Making
Huge commons majority meant Labour could deliver vast bulk of its policies
Strong personal mandate can lead to PMs feeling invincible and invulnerable.
Went on to alienate many in his own party with the invasion of Iraq and introduction of university tuition fees.
By 2010, David Cameron had reduced oppositon to minimum wage and devolution, adopting more liberal stances on the environment and gay rights.
More one-nation.
Significance of the Electoral System
Over-rewarded the victors while under-rewarding the principal opposition party, and severely punishing the third party.
2019
Context, Background and Result
Ended 9 year period of coalition, minority and small majority governments with an 80 seat majority under Boris Johnson
Apparent end to Brexit impasse
Followed May’s resignation , but also struggled to build any unity over Brexit Deal within party let alone parliament.
Also struggled to call an early election through the FTPA 2011, but circumvented by the passage of the Early Parliamentary Election Act 2019
gathering public frustration and anger among voters who wanted political stalemate broken and a functioning government.
Labour’s ‘red wall’ in the Midlands and northern England fell into Conservative’s hands.
Tactical voting remained limited
Electoral pact between Green, Plaid Cymru and the Lib Dems agreed not to field candidates against each other in 60 seats to risk splitting the Remain vote.
This meant that the three parties failed to secure any additional seats.
Role of the Media
Emergence of social media
Limited regulation, allowed for plenty of accusation of ‘fake news’.
Labour spent heavily on Facebook, and outspent in total by around £500k.
Younger voters more influenced and subjected to pro-Labour content.
Tories and Labour worked together to exclude the Liberal Democrats and the SNP from main leaders’ debate aired on ITV.
The Significance of Manifestos
Labour
Brexit policy more nuanced.
More public spending and significant rise in minimum wage.
Renationalisation of Big 6
Conservatives
‘Get Brexit Done’
Played on the frustrations of 3 year gridlock
50,000 new nurses and no income tax rise.
Cut carbon emissions to virtually zero by 2050
Liberal Democrats
Promised to revoke Article 50, blatant disregard for the popular vote.
35 hours of free childcare a week
Giving schools an extra £10 billion 2024/25.
The Impact of Leadership and the Election Campaign
Corbyn seen as too ‘metropolitan’ and removed from the concerns of voters
Allies state that Labour lost on its Brexit stance not personal dislike for the leader as most Labour losses were in Leave-leaning seats.
Activism in Johnson’s Uxbridge seat, opposed to Labour marginals.
Johnson had more of a populist style
Disciplined campaign with candidates largely remaining on message.
How the Election Affected Policy-Making
Johnson embarked on preferred Brexit deal, ‘no deal’ being nuclear option.
Did not have to worry about loyalty of backbenchers aside from the Autumn markets Bill of 2020 which infringed some international law.
Thrown into disarray with COVID 19 Pandemic.
Example of strogn majority and clear agenda being thrown off.
The Significance of Electoral System
Over rewarded the winning party’s as well as a party with a concentrated regional following (SNP)
Referendums
Clement Attlee
’The referendum which has only too often been the instrument of Nazism and fascism’
Referendums are not a traditional aspect of the UK’s political landscape.
Three National Referendums- Constitutional Issues
1975: Do you think the UK should stay in the European Community? (Yes 67.23%)
2011: Should the ‘Alternative Vote System be used instead [of FPTP]? (No 67.9%)
2016: Should the UK remain a member of the EU or leave the EU? (Leave 51.89%)
Regional Referendums- Constitutional Issues
1997: Devolution for Wales and Scotland (Both yes)
1998: Good Friday Agreement (NI and Ireland yes)
2004: NE Devolution (No 77.93%)
2014: Scottish Independence (No 55%)
Never used, as seen in some US states, for ethical or moral issues including abortion.
They either reflect poltitical deals or the government believes in them.
AV vote consequence of Lib Dem coalition.
Referendums never happen from pressure through direct action or petitions directly from the electorate.
Advantages
Engage voters in poltiical debate and decision making in specific issues. Often promotes participation
Turnout for Scottish Independence was 84.6%
Direct link between policy-making and national will
Can absorb divisions within parties
Conservatives within Europe, something not possible at general elections where voters choose between parties and national manifestos
Settle controversial arguments
Check on government, especially int he UK considering parliamentary sovereignty.
Disadvantages
Binary choice, with limited room for debate and define such refinements as seen in Brexit.
Undermine and weaken representative democracy.
Many issues are complicated and not understood by voters.
Swayed by campaign propaganda which can be simplistic and misleading.
Remain supporters accused Leave of misleading voters by promising an additional £350 million a week to NHS through diverted funds from the EU.
Controversial issues not fully decided by one referendum, such as calls for a second referendum on Brexit and Scottish independence.
Turnout in some referendums can be low.
-AV referendum was 42%
‘Tyranny of the majority’
Younger voters more likely to vote Remain with effects disproportionately felt over time.