Agenda item

The UK's current voting system (known as First Past the Post, FPTP) originated when land-owning aristocrats dominated parliament and voting was restricted to property-owning men.

Currently in Europe, only the UK and authoritarian Belarus still use archaic single-round FPTP for general elections. Internationally, Proportional Representation (PR) is used to elect the parliaments of more than 80 countries. These countries tend to be more equal, freer and greener.

PR ensures all votes count, have equal value, and that seats won match votes cast. Under PR, MPs and Parliaments better reflect the age, gender and protected characteristics of both local communities and of the nation.

MPs better reflecting the communities they represent in turn leads to improved decision-making, wider participation and increased levels of ownership of decisions taken.

PR would also end minority rule. In 2019, 43.6% of the vote produced a government with   56.2% of the seats and 100% of the power. Fair, proportional votes also prevent ‘wrong winner’ elections such as occurred in 1951 and February 1974.

The current FPTP system leads to some of the electorate questioning the point of voting since they do not feel their views are represented. This contributes to apathy and subsequent low turnout in elections. Engaging with the electorate is vital for a functioning democracy.

PR is the national policy of the Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, Green Party, SNP, Plaid Cymru, Reform UK and Women’s Equality Party along with a host of Trade Unions and pro-democracy organisations. 31 District, Borough, City and County Councils have already passed motions asking for Proportional Representation to be used in General Elections.

PR is already used to elect the parliaments and assemblies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. So why not Westminster?

South Kesteven District Council therefore resolves to write to H.M. Government calling for a change in our outdated electoral laws and to enable Proportional Representation to be used for UK general elections.

Councillor Vanessa Smith proposed the following motion:

The UK's current voting system (known as First Past the Post, FPTP) originated when land-owning aristocrats dominated parliament and voting was restricted to property-owning men.

Currently in Europe, only the UK and authoritarian Belarus still use archaic single-round FPTP for general elections. Internationally, Proportional Representation (PR) is used to elect the parliaments of more than 80 countries. These countries tend to be more equal, freer and greener.

PR ensures all votes count, have equal value, and that seats won match votes cast. Under PR, MPs and Parliaments better reflect the age, gender and protected characteristics of both local communities and of the nation.

MPs better reflecting the communities they represent in turn leads to improved decision-making, wider participation and increased levels of ownership of decisions taken.

PR would also end minority rule. In 2019, 43.6% of the vote produced a government with   56.2% of the seats and 100% of the power. Fair, proportional votes also prevent ‘wrong winner’ elections such as occurred in 1951 and February 1974.

The current FPTP system leads to some of the electorate questioning the point of voting since they do not feel their views are represented. This contributes to apathy and subsequent low turnout in elections. Engaging with the electorate is vital for a functioning democracy.

PR is the national policy of the Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, Green Party, SNP, Plaid Cymru, Reform UK and Women’s Equality Party along with a host of Trade Unions and pro-democracy organisations. 31 District, Borough, City and County Councils have already passed motions asking for Proportional Representation to be used in General Elections.

PR is already used to elect the parliaments and assemblies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. So why not Westminster?

South Kesteven District Council therefore resolves to write to H.M. Government calling for a change in our outdated electoral laws and to enable Proportional Representation to be used for UK general elections.

The motion was seconded.

The following views were raised during the introduction to, and debate on the motion:

• The turnout in the recent July 2024 election was low, and a Prime Minister was returned on a low vote share. This did not reflect the views of the electorate.
• The number of people voting for smaller parties had increased. It was no secret that the Green Party had been fighting for PR for a number of years, as under this system they would have been entitled to a higher number of seats at the July 2024 election. The Reform Party, who returned five MPs would have been entitled to a significantly higher number of members of Parliament.
• PR would bring an end to tactical voting.
• It was not just the most recent election that was disproportionate; in 1974 the party with the smallest vote share won the largest proportion of seats.
• PR ensured that seats in the House of Commons were allocated according to the share of the popular vote. There were different systems within PR; the Additional Member System retained the constituency link.
• PR was used in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Electoral Reform Society (ERS) had campaigned for change in the UK for a number of years.
• The Liberal Democrats had regularly polled between 15-20% of the vote and had never seen a proportionate number of seats reflective of this vote share.
• FPTP delivered a clear winner and strong majority governments. It also retained a bond between the MP and their constituency, ensuring a dedicated representative accountable to the electorate.
• FPTP also encouraged broadchurch coalitions.
• Every single voting system had strengths and weaknesses. Under a PR system constituency size would increase.
• PR was used in other European countries where coalitions were often in place. The Netherlands and Belgium had coalition governments, which could take some time to form.

An amendment was suggested to the motion, which was accepted by the mover:

From:

South Kesteven District Council therefore resolves to write to H.M. Government calling for a change in our outdated electoral laws and to enable Proportional Representation to be used for UK general elections.

To:

South Kesteven District Council therefore resolves to ask H.M. Government to

• Introduce Proportional Representation for UK general elections
• Ensure that any future Greater Lincolnshire Mayor is elected by a 'preferential vote' system and not by 'first past the post'

Debate then continued on the substantive motion:

• Voter ID had added a further complication to the process of voting, with an estimated 400,000 people affected. All efforts to make the voting system more democratic were welcomed.
• All parties are in effect coalitions, even under the current FPTP system.
• In previous elections, particularly in the 1950s and 1960s there was a binary choice between Labour and Conservatives. This was not the case now as there were a number of different parties that voters could choose.
• Diversity of opinion was a good thing and opens up those ‘safe seats’ where a number of people did not think there was any point to their vote.
• It was unlikely that a Government that had been elected under the current FPTP system would listen to a motion about electoral reform.

Having previously been moved and seconded, there was a vote on the substantive motion, and the substantive motion was LOST.