Proposed Italian electoral law would remove First Past the Post seats – but it’s not all good newsFor much of the post-war period, Italy was famous for having a very proportional electoral system – but this all changed in 1993 when they created a system that mixed First Past the Post and...Posted 27 Jul 2026
The problem with tactical voting in Britain’s multi-party politicsAt election time, millions of us arrive at the polling station in a conflicted state of mind – do I vote for the party I most believe in, or do I vote tactically to influence...Posted 15 Jul 2026
What has Andy Burnham said about the voting system?Westminster has, once again, been engulfed in high theatre. The Prime Minister stood aside on Monday announcing a two-week departure timetable. Hours later, Andy Burnham hopped on the train to take his Commons seat and...Posted 25 Jun 2026
What is the Supplementary Vote, and why is it being used in Manchester?On Thursday 30 July, Greater Manchester will be electing a new mayor. The by-election follows Andy Burnham’s decision to return to Westminster, but it’s not just the mayor who will be changing. The way the...Posted 24 Jun 2026
The difference between proportional and preferential voting systems – and why it mattersWhen is an electoral reform not proportional? That question matters because support for scrapping First Past the Post is growing, yet not every alternative would solve Westminster’s central democratic problem: Parliaments that don’t reflect how...Posted 11 Jun 2026
A council with no overall control isn’t the same as one with proportional representationMay’s English local elections ended one-party dominance in over 30 councils, with 64 of the 136 councils now under no overall control. But a council under no overall control elected by First Past the Post,...Posted 03 Jun 2026
Why we need to change the way we elect our councillors in England and WalesDiscussions around changing the voting system often refer to Westminster, yet the same problems that stifle the government of the UK apply at a much more local level. Just like in Parliament, councils across England...Posted 28 Apr 2026
How Scotland’s Holyrood elections work will work this MayThe 2024 General Election in Scotland was a one-sided affair. Scottish Labour won 35.3% of the vote in Scotland and 64.9% of the available seats. While the SNP came a narrow second place on 30%...Posted 23 Apr 2026
There is a new way of voting at the Senedd election this May. How does it work?Whatever happens in May, the next Senedd election is set to be historic. For instance, recent polling has pointed to the chance that Labour might not be the largest party in the Senedd for the...Posted 02 Apr 2026
Scotland’s Parliament still has too much First Past the PostWhen the Scottish Parliament was created, it was built to be different to Westminster. A system designed to reflect how all Scots voted, not just who comes first in each area. Scotland uses what is...Posted 25 Mar 2026