Electoral Reform in the UK

1. Electoral Reform in the UK http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/

2. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS

3. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS • Reformed number of seats from 785 to 736 MEPs • Britain returns 72 seats • Reformed system in 1998, implemented in 1999 European Parliamentary elections use PARTY LIST SYSTEM • Mainland Britain has 11 regions (N. Ireland is 12th) with groups elected for each region – fairly proportional although constituency sizes not consistent. • Party publishes a list and voters can vote for party. ‘Closed list’ system as opposed to ‘open list’ where voters can give a preference did gain criticism. • 3 elections now 1999, 2004 and 2009. • Turn out for EP elections low – under FPTP 36% in 1989 and 1994 but only 23% in 1999 up to 38 % in 2004 so impact of change to system hard to analyse • All parties can choose candidate list • Aided small parties i.e Greens won 2 seats in 2004 & 2009, UKIP won 12 MEPs in 2004 and 13 in 2009 and nationalists (SNP and Plaid Cymru). In centre Lib Dems do better. 12 seats 2004 only 2 in 1994 • However slight cut-off point for very small parties due to regional and not a national list i.e 2004 British National Party had 5 % of vote but won no seats as did Respect (anti-war with Iraq party) • http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7819889.stm

4. Electoral Reform • The European Parliament (p.101-105) • Scottish Parliament & Welsh Assembly (p.105-109) • Election for Mayor of London other directly elected mayors (p.109-113) • Northern Ireland Assembly (p.113-114) • The Jenkins Report (p.114-115) • Council elections in Scot/Wales use STV since 2007. Confusion to voters? (p.116) • House of Lords – reform or not? (p.116) http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/article.php?id=30

5. Scottish Parliament & Welsh Assembly • 1999 Reforms – AMS (hybrid system) • MSP = Member of Scottish Parliament • MWA = Member of the Welsh Assembly • Two parts FPTP and closed party lists. ‘Split-ticket’ voting • 5 regions in Wales and 40 constituencies • Scotland = 7 regions and 73 constituencies • Impact? • Turnout? • How did it affect small and large parties? • Impact at elections? Coalitions • ‘New Politics’ for Scotland and Wales. Scotland moves to ‘left’? • Increased female representation

6. Northern IrelandAssembly • Good Friday Agreement 1998 complex constitutional arrangement to create political system that wasn’t dominated by Unionist majority. • Uses STV – try to create representation for two hostile communities as proportional. Also hoped that transferable vote would go t moderates and not extremists. • Elections in 1998, 2003 and 2007Helped represent smaller groups like the Alliance, the Women’s Coalition and the minor Unionist parties. • But increase in support for extreme parties in 2003 DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) and SF (Sinn Fein). Confirmed in 2007. SO STV seemed to have little impact. • http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/members/constmap_res.htm

7. Electoral Reform • Labour and electoral reform (Neil Kinnock/Blair etc.) Why did Labour want reform? Cons victories 1979-1992. • The Jenkins Report • Why no referendum under Labour on electoral reform? Using pages 81-84 you need notes on the above issues Answer questions 1-7 on page 85.

8. Electoral Reform Work to be completed by next lesson • Finished notes and questions from text book. • Notes from the handout on electoral reform – Independent commission, attitudes of Conservatives/Libs/Labour to electoral reform etc. BE READY TO DISCUSS NEXT LESSON • Read , highlight and annotate the article on the 2010 General Election. Again be ready to discuss.