Greens Are Pushing For A Fairer Voting System

Fair Votes Now

The outcome of the 2015 general election has made it clearer than ever: the first past the post voting system is unfair, un-democratic and results in millions of voters not being adequately represented in parliament.

At the May 2015 General Election, over 5 million people voted for two parties (Green and UKIP) who won two seats between them, while less than 1.5 million votes gave the Scottish National Party 56 seats, and Scotland elected only one Labour MP in 59 constituencies, despite Labour receiving 24% of votes.

Similarly, many North Lincolnshire residents are not adequately represented on North Lincolnshire Council, due to the first past the post system being applied to local elections. The total amount of votes The Green Party received at the Local Elections in May 2015 was 8,293, giving us a total of 10.2% of the vote but not receiving any seats. The Conservatives won 26 seats with 33,933 votes, whilst Labour only won 17 seats with 26,250 votes and UKIP won no seats with 12,236 votes.

Under PR the results would have been different, with The Conservatives winning 19 seats, Labour winning 14 seats, Greens winning 4 seats and UKIP winning 6 seats.

When Scotland introduced PR in 2007 the number of voters whose first choice council candidate was elected rose from 52.3% to 74.0%

In May 2015, The Green Party received a record number of votes both nationally and locally. The party retained 123 deposits, compared with the six it saved in 2010, and achieved second places in four constituencies. Natalie Bennett, Green Party Leader said "The fact that we have achieved over one million votes yet not been rewarded with more MPs draws into sharp focus just how unfair and outdated our winner-takes-all voting system is. The fight for a fairer, more democratic voting system – one which recognises the will of the people rather than entrenches the established order - has already begun”

The Green Party believes strongly in a true democratic representation in local authorities as well as parliament. It is time that the archaic voting system is changed to a progressive, fair and truly democratic system.

If we are serious about wanting to engage North Lincolnshire’s residents in politics then we need to make sure that every vote counts and every resident is represented at local level. With Proportional Representation in place, North Lincolnshire Council would be more democratic and represent more of its residents.

 

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