‘Third strike for Westminster’s voting system’

It will come as little surprise to critics of the First Past The Post electoral system that the 2017 General Election has once again led to millions of wasted votes. According to the ERS, 68% of votes had no impact on the result – in other words, 22 million votes were wasted this election.

0.0016% of voters choosing differently would have given the Conservatives a majority, while the election saw rise in very marginal seats: eleven seats were won by fewer than 100 votes.

First Past the Post is exaggerating divisions in the UK – Labour secured 29% of South East vote but got just 10% of seats, while Conservatives won 34% of the North East vote but got just 9% of seats. Meanwhile, the SNP continue to be over-represented in Scotland, as is Labour in Wales