FPTP

• Plurality system

  • voters cast one vote
  • candidate with most votes in constituency is MP
• Conservatives

  2017 = won 42% of votes but 49% of seats

  2019 = won 44% of votes but won 56% pf seats

  43,000 votes for one seat
• Labour

  2017 = 40% of votes but 42% of seats

  2019= 32% of votes but 39% of seats

  50,000 votes for a seat
• SNP

  2019 = 4% of votes but 7% of seats

  28,000 votes for a seat
• Liberal Democrats 


  2017= 7.4% of votes but won 1.8% of seats

  2019 = 11.5% of votes but won 1.7% of seats
• Green

  2017 = 1.6% of votes but won 0.2% of seats

  2019 = 2.7% of votes but won 0.2% of seats

  525,000 votes for one seat
• Safe Seats

  • same party wins
  • 368/500 safe seats won in 2015
  • parties dont need to focus on safe seats
  • wasted votes
  • votes not of equal value
• Marginal Seats

  • constituencies with close results likely to change
  • many elections are won / lost by marginal seats
  • voters get attention
  • votes are more valuable
  • tactical voting
• By - Elections

  • sitting MP dies or resigns before election
  • vacancy
  • By election only in that constituency
  • voters go against government and call them to account
• Winners bonus

  • difference between seats won and votes gained
• FPTP should not be reformed

  • easy to understand
  • clear result
  • clear accountability
  • clear winner, strong government
  • prevents small extremist parties winning
  • stood test of time
  • voters can issue vote
  • Core MP constituent bond
  • 2011- AV referendum
• FPTP should be reformed 


  2010,15,17 hung parliaments

  tactical voting = people abandon who they want in power

  1945 - the winner has not secured more than half = illegitimate

  votes are irregular = marginal seats

  wasted votes = safe seats

  overall not proportional
• AMS Data 


  2016

  • SNP won 48.8% of seats of 41.1% votes in regional lists
  • Liberal Democrats had 7% of vote which is 5 MSPs
  • SNP 44% of vote returned (49%)