Thomas Erskine May's guide to parliamentary practice is properly entitled 'A treatise on the law, privileges, proceedings and usage of Parliament' First published in 1844. Now in its 25th edition (£325)
We don’t have an encoded constitution, so as far as Parliament is concerned we rely on the “Good Chaps” version of procedure and tradition, together with accepted rules. But no written constitution.
It’s always been accepted by both major parties because whoever is in power at any given time…it’s bendable to a degree. But the Good Chaps, doing the right thing, honestly and fairly still holds. What it fails to do is to incorporate a mechanism for holding the executive from more or less doing what they want.
This has become obvious, especially in the last 5-10 years. If you haven’t noticed, you have not been paying attention
FPTP to a large extent is a disenfranchisement of whole sections of the electorate who don’t believe their views can be represented, so almost by default vote one of three parties. I have no time at all for UKIP or extreme parties of any colour. But in a democracy those views should be represented, other countries have voting systems in place for that to happen.
We need:
An encoded Constitution
A written bill of rights
The monarchy removed from any participation in Parliament.
An elected second chamber
STV voting system.
I disagree with the assessment that we have a terrible system, that can only be saved by your proposals.
I believe there has been a "perfect storm" of events with Trump, Brexit and Covid and it has resulted in unprecedented times.
I like having parliamentary constituencies and voting for somebody, not just a party. I don't like the purest forms of STV at all, with large blocks of multiple representatives.
Two/Three party politics has proved a pretty good way to get self correcting Government in this country, as the next election can and often does bring "justice" to a malfunctioning/unpopular regime.
Factions within parties usually mean that it is rare that there is not opposition to the Government from within its own party. It needs strong leadership of other parties and particularly the opposition to apply appropriate checks to the government. The more fractious the opposition factions the less chance the Government will be checked. Governments with strong overall majorities are still usually kept in check. If not then they will be hoofed out.
There were 345 Conservative MP's returned in England. Only 70 did not get over 50% of the vote in their constituency. Of the 70, 56 of them got over 45% of the vote.
There were 14 Welsh Conservative MP's returned, 6 of them got over 50%. Of the 8 remaining, 4 of them got over 45%.
In Scotland, there were just 6 Conservatives, 1 got over 50%, 3 more got over 45%.
In total, 365 elected, 282 of them got over 50%, with 63 more getting over 45%.
Only 20 Conservative MP's got below 45% of the vote in their constituency.
You really do have to wonder who could think that a Conservative majority as small as 80 is such a problem, or so unreflective of a clear win?
If we look to Scotland, the most exaggerated picture emerges and much more in keeping with the thoughts of some of the critics of FPTP. Scotland and Wales are both over-represented in Parliament versus England. They simply have fewer people per constituency.
A greater proportion of England 47.3% voted Conservative, than the 45.0% of Scots that voted SNP.
Yet SNP got 81.3% of the inflated Scottish seats, compared to 64.7% of Conservative English seats.
Similarly, a look at localised areas like Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and much of London, see only Labour MP's with a view that any other vote is effectively dead.
The problem is not the electoral system and FPTP, the problem is what has happened at this point in time. It is how Johnson is Governing and is being shambolically opposed. Johnson will get his, either from his own, or by the electorate at the next show and even with an 80 majority he still can't do what he likes/others fear. Look at the by election win for the LD's, a real wake up call as if he didn't already need one.
The vote in 2019 was strongly impacted by Brexit. It still did not produce a ridiculous majority. The Government will be held to account at the next election. The British public will not all forget the Covid mistakes and corruption and the style of "leadership". We could do with more aligned and more critical opposition. Things will correct again.
There are much bigger electoral injustices in Scotland than there are for the UK re a need for PR.
Their alternative to the traditional 2/3 perties, has simply just got their act commendably together, to get the power they have.
I do agree with one point you make and that is the benefit of having a slimmed down and elected Second Chamber. Maybe the opportunity to have a PR system as with Aus and others for this house.
I'd also have slimmed down HoC, with fewer, much better paid/resourced, completely dedicated to the job MP's who have to declare everything.