Disadvantages

• FPTP

  • In 2010 and 2017 FPTP failed to give an absolute majority to any party but delivered a hung parliament instead
• The Conservative Party had to form a coalition with the Liberal Democrats between 2010 and 2015
• The Conservative Party governed as a minority government between 2017 and 2019
• Encourages tactical voting among some voters and so abandon the party they want to support example- the electoral reform society estimated that 6.5 million voters engaged in tactical voting in 2016 election
• FPTP doesn’t guarantee a clear winner and a clear mandate example- 2010 and 2017 FPTP failed to give an absolute majority to parties and instead formed a hung parliament and also it caused a coalition with Lib Dem and conservatives in 2015
• Overall outcome is not fair and proportional as some parties win more seats and some win fewer- Lib Dem won almost 12% of the vote in 2019 but only won under 2% of seats
• Prevents new parties breaking into the system- UKIP won support across the country in 2015 with almost 4 million seats yet it only gained 1 seat
• Votes can be wasted