The Advantage and Disadvantages of FPTP

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  • Created by: TilsR
  • Created on: 14-06-23 18:53

The Advantage and Disadvantages of FPTP

Advantages

  • The process is simple and easy for the electorate to understand
  • It tends to produce a clear winner
  • Voters are given a clear choice
  • Produces strong governments through favouring the major parties
  • A lack of coalitions (on the whole) mean the ruling party can enact their manifesto promises and act decisively in times of crisis
  • Voters are familiar with the current system and view it as legitimate
  • Makes it difficult for extremist parties to gain any power in parliament
  • The 'safe seats' seem to be changing - in 2019 the Conservatives made gains in Labour areas
  • Parties other than Labour or the Conservatives are winning seats in the Commons (SNP had 56 in 2015)
  • The counting process is quick and simple
  • Single member constituencies provide a clear MP-voter link

Disadvantages

  • Encourages tactical voting
  • The number of marginal seats has declined meaning fewer seats changed hands at general elections
  • Disparities in constituency size mean that votes have different values
  • A party can form a government having won only 35% of the vote
  • Not since 1935 has a party won more than 50% in a general election
  • Creates 'electoral deserts' - part of the country where a party has little to no represpentation
  • Causes many wasted votes
  • The number of seats doesn't reflect the share of the vote achieved
  • It no longer produces only strong single-party governments
  • It is arguably outdated in a multi-party country
  • In 1951 and 1974 the party who won fewer votes won more seats than its opponent
  • Creates 'safe seats'

Evaluation

The system of FPTP has more disadvantages and so should be reformed and replaced with a different system.

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