Advantages and Disdvantages of FPTP

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FPTP is used in general elections to the House of Commons. Voters elect chosen candidates by ticking one candidate on the ballot. Winning candidates from each constituency take up their seats in the HoC and the party with an absolute majority forms the government. The leader of the governing party becomes the Prime Minister, and selects their cabinet.

Advantages of FPTP

  • Strong single-party government - Administrations with a clear overall majority can provide effective leadership for the nation, especially at times of national crisis. e.g. Tony Blair saw a sufficient enough threat in Iraq to invade, this decisive actionn made him accountable. FPTP usually provides strong and stable governments with a clear overall majority and mandate to govern the country. e.g. the former Labour government used its strength in parliament to respond decisively to the banks by nationalising Northern Rock
  • Strong MP-constituency link - FPTP used single member constituencies which means that one MP clearly represents a single defined area, therefore all

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