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Should the 'first past the post' electoral system continue to be used to elect the House of Commons? - Edexcel - A-Level Politics - Question 3 - 2017 - Paper 1
Question 3
Should the 'first past the post' electoral system continue to be used to elect the House of Commons?
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Should the 'first past the post' electoral system continue to be used to elect the House of Commons? - Edexcel - A-Level Politics - Question 3 - 2017 - Paper 1
Step 1
Arguments for maintaining the first past the post system
Answer
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Endorsement in 2011: The system has been endorsed in the 2011 referendum where voters chose to retain it over the alternative vote (AV) system.
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Clear constituency link: The first past the post system establishes a direct connection between constituents and their Members of Parliament (MPs), allowing for accountable representation.
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Stability in government: It fosters the formation of strong and stable governments that can work effectively, as it typically leads to a majority for one party.
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Discouragement of extremism: By keeping out extremist parties, the system helps maintain a centrist political environment and prevents radical shifts in government policy.
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Simplicity and swift outcomes: The simplicity of the voting process and the speed at which results are delivered make it accessible to voters.
Step 2
Arguments against maintaining the first past the post system
Answer
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Failure to deliver 'fair outcomes': The system is often criticized for producing results that do not reflect the voters' overall preferences, leading to disenfranchisement.
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Concentration of support: It tends to favor parties with concentrated support while penalizing those with widespread but less concentrated backing, diminishing fair representation.
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Winners bonus: The system delivers an undemocratic 'winners bonus' which exaggerates the margin of victory, resulting in significant discrepancies between popular votes and seat allocations.
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Majority representation issues: There are instances where multiple MPs can gain 50% or more of the vote in their constituencies, while no single party achieves 50% of the overall vote, limiting the government’s mandate.
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Safe seats: It creates many 'safe seats' that discourage voters from participating in elections, as they may feel their vote does not matter in predictable outcomes.
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Instability in past elections: The first past the post system has not consistently produced strong and stable single-party governments, as seen in the 1970s and 2010.