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Why Reform?

Scotland

Our Scottish Office is leading the campaign for fair votes North of the Border

Since May 2007 there have been four different voting systems in operation in Scotland: First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) for Westminster, Additional Member System (AMS) for the Scottish Parliament, Single Transferable Vote (STV) for local elections and closed list for elections to the European Parliament.

The Society campaigned long and hard for STV in Scottish local government, and is still investigating the full impications of the first use of the system in mainland Britain in recent times.

In short STV has changed the rules of Scottish Local Government:

Politically, it has resulted in a dramatic redistribution of power between the parties in Scottish local government
It has ended the undeserved majorities that have given some party groups control with little effective opposition, rescued others from undeserved impotence and, in most local authorities, they have required parties to come together to form administrations.

Voters have also seen significant differences:

Most votes did something to get someone elected, and most voters now have councillor of their choice.
It has put all seats back in contention, ending the plague of uncontested seats and radically increasing voter choice across Scotland.

Since the first STV Election in May 2007 the Society been researching the full implications on campaigning, governance and representation, and is building on this momentum to press for change in Holyrood and Westminster elections.