← Back to House of Commons Debates
Elections (Proportional Representation)
03 December 2024
Lead MP
Sarah Olney
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
No tags
Other Contributors: 2
At a Glance
Sarah Olney raised concerns about elections (proportional representation) in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Ms. Olney argued that the current first-past-the-post voting system undermines democracy by delivering a Government with a large majority based on a minority vote share, leading to record levels of political disillusionment and low voter turnout. She proposed a Bill to introduce proportional representation through the single transferable vote (STV) system for both parliamentary and local government elections in England, emphasising that this change would better reflect public opinion, increase democratic engagement, and address structural issues eroding public trust in politics.
Sarah Olney
Lib Dem
Richmond Park
Ms. Olney highlighted the disproportionate results of recent elections, where a significant number of MPs were elected with less than half of their constituency's votes. She advocated for an STV system to preserve the local link between MPs and constituents while ensuring broader support among electors. Emphasising the success of proportional systems in devolved UK Parliaments and Assemblies, she called for urgent action to protect democratic processes from internal and external threats.
Lewis Cocking
Con
Broxbourne
Mr. Cocking defended the first-past-the-post system as simple, stable, and effective in producing clear majorities. He argued that proportional representation would polarize communities, complicate voter contact with MPs, and lead to undemocratic deal-making among political parties post-elections. Citing public opposition to electoral reform, he suggested retaining the current voting system to ensure strong Governments who can deliver manifesto promises.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.