England’s local elections show the warped world of First Past the Post Local people are best placed to decide the priorities of their local government. But as we say today, voters in England and Wales have very little impact on who sits in their local council chambers.... Posted 03 May 2024
First Past the Post has failed to give the most popular Canadian party the most seats Minority government on 32% of the vote is one thing, but it is another when it isn’t even the most popular minority that gets to be in charge. Posted 22 Sep 2021
How the Democrats could win the popular vote but not control of the House Brenda from Bristol famously cried “not another one!” at the news that we were to hold an election in 2017, just two years since the last one. Let’s hope she doesn’t plan to move to... Posted 06 Nov 2018
In 1951 more people voted Labour than Conservative, yet the Conservatives formed the government The General Election on this day in 1951 couldn’t have been more decisive. Six years since Labour’s victory in 1945, and one year after their victory in 1950, the public was still behind Clement Attlee’s... Posted 25 Oct 2018
When getting the most votes isn’t enough – England’s 2018 local elections Last week’s local elections were a textbook lesson in why we need to change the way we elect our local councils. From the wrong party winning, to councils with zero scrutiny, using Westminster’s voting system... Posted 09 May 2018
Does First Past the Post actually mean voters can ‘Kick the bastards out’? We hear time and again of the way First Past the Post lets voters ‘kick the bastards out’ – a colourful reference to the perceived ease with which voters can turf out one government and neatly replace it... Posted 31 Aug 2010