How Election Works

The most important effect of the electoral system, with each seat won by the candidate with most votes, has been to sustain the dominance of two main rival parties, and only two. One forms the Government, the other the Opposition, hoping to change places after the next general election. The Prime Minister can choose the date of an election, with only three or four weeks’ notice. He does it at any time that seems favourable, up to five years after the last election. At an election the people choose ‘a Parliament’ for five years and no more. But only one ‘Parliament’ has lasted its full five years since 1945.

Until 1918 the Conservatives (Tories) and Liberals (formerly Whigs) took turns at holding power, then Conservatives and Labour. The Labour Party, formed in 1900 in alliance with the Liberals, replaced them as the second major party after 1918. Labour’s success was made possible by divisions among the Liberals.

Between 40s and 80s there were thirteen general elections. No party ever received as many as half of the votes cast. Twelve of the elections gave an overall majority of seats to Labour (5) or Conservative (7). The winning party’s percentage of the votes varied from 39% to 49%.

The two-party system which is the essential feature of modern British government is a product of the electoral system, rather than a reflection of the wishes of the people. Many opinion polls, over many years, have indicated that most of the British people would prefer to use their most fundamental right, that of voting, in a system that would give fair representation. But both Conservatives and Labour claim that the existing electoral system is better than any other. They have produced objective arguments for it and the two-party dominance which it sustains. First, all the people of each constituency have one MP to represent them and their interests. Second, gives the people a clear choice between two alternative sets of leaders and policies. Third, it gives stable government for up to five years at a time. Fourth, because any person with realistic political ambitions must join one of the two main parties, each party includes a wide range of attitudes. Fifth, each party’s programme is likely to avoid extremes - and a government knows that within five years of taking power it must again face the judgement of the voters.

It is worthy pointing out that two-party choice at an election may be no better than a choice between two evils. Ministers of both parties, once in office, have developed a habit of claiming that at the last election the people voted to approve of every item in the winning party’s election manifesto. The truth is that only about two-fifths voted for the party. And many of these were more against the losers than for the winners. The claims about moderation, once well founded, have become less convincing in the past twenty years or so.

Let's be frank, public primaries are about bringing a greater sense of public involvement, and hence legitimacy, into a process still controlled by the rival parties. This is why primaries must be seen as simply one element in a more thorough-going reform of our political culture. We also need televised public nomination meetings at which all candidates would be brought together and forced to answer the public's questions, and we need broadcasters to do more to ensure that national party leaders face daily interrogation from the public during an election. But more than anything we need an electoral system that makes every vote count and every constituency 'marginal'.

Notes*

to sustain the dominance - підтримувати перевагу rival parties - суперницькі партії a notice, n. - повідомлення, попередження, рецензія

on the other hand - з іншого боку on the one hand - з одного боку moderation - помірність, невимогливість, поміркованість convincing claims - переконуючі твердження, вимоги

Talking Points*

What’s the essential feature of modern British government?

What are two rival parties struggling for power at every election?

What are the arguments for two-party dominance at the election?

Chapter 6

Дата добавления: 2015-08-18