I fear that the wider and important dimensions of our electoral systems may be lost in much conventional analysis, so here are some points to consider from the actual data of yesterdays polls around Britain. Please note especially the point I've emboldened: I suspect that the way the media present matters will make it seem the opposite was the case.
Note too the irony that if not for proportional systems in Wales, the Conservatives would have no Welsh representation, yet they don't seem to like the system!
Make My Vote Count: Friday 2pm update
Technorati Tags: politics, UK, voting, elections
ENGLISH LOCALS:
... - many cases of hugely exaggerated majorities for winning party, limiting scope for effective opposition on council and scrutiny of executive.
- rampant 'wrong winner' syndrome: Birmingham, Bury, Wirral, Bolton and Portsmouth are amongst the councils where people voted more in favour of one party and instead saw another in control of the council.
- some councils (Bournemouth and Blackpool) had huge swing in control and seats between parties but may not have been reflected in votes. Moreover makes it a lot harder for longer term council stability and policy effectiveness, with control so easily shifting.
SCOTLAND:
- voter turnout seems to have increased.
- need to see the difference between voting systems and voting methods. It appears the source of problems has been with the latter (technical glitches, design of ballot paper, postal votes) rather than with people failing to understand the voting systems themselves.
- far fewer spoilt ballot papers for STV local elections than for parliamentary one.
- ERS and others foresaw problems with (i) design of parliamentary ballot paper and (ii) holding the two elections at the same time; but such advice was not heeded.
WELSH ASSEMBLY:
- Conservatives should once again be proclaiming the benefits of a more proportional system, but are strangely silent. This time, they have gained 4 more constituency (FPTP) seats than 2003 - in part because of the electoral base that their 'top-up' regional list AMs have given them over the past years; despite being absent from parliamentary representation between 1997-2005.
- Labour: has gained an extra list seat to compensate a little for losing a number of constituency AMs. So even Labour is starting to get the benefits of the system.
Note too the irony that if not for proportional systems in Wales, the Conservatives would have no Welsh representation, yet they don't seem to like the system!
Make My Vote Count: Friday 2pm update
Technorati Tags: politics, UK, voting, elections
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