Reflections for March 2026
I was asked after my last article if I would this time write about proportional representation. It is one – possibly the only - electoral system that can give a fair democratically elected House of Commons and so a government that represents the voters.
PR, as it is called, is not the jolliest of subjects for a letter, but it is as well that we all know about it. The other political parties know and have on occasions said they will go along with PR. The Liberal Democrats have always argued for PR.
After the Gorton & Denton by-election on February 26th this year complaints were that our electoral system is not merely broken but has never worked to produce a democratic result.
In that by-election in a Manchester district: the count showed in round figures that nearly 50% of the 50% who voted had their votes shared out between five serious candidates standing for their party. That result showed that the winner who actually went to Parliament, represented only 25% of the electors who voted. [You may question why did only half of the electorate vote?] And you may answer - that is because half the electorate knew that their vote would not count. Or was it that they could not be bothered to turn out? That they thought all politicians are out of touch, are for themselves, for money and if they get lucky - for power?
Whatever the case: we deserve a democratically elected government.
Now PR is not difficult. – Apart from Belarus, every other country in Europe has some form of PR to elect its MP’s to their Parliament.
It is considered that the best PR system is STV – is the Single Transferable Vote. It works by having large Constituencies with each electing several prospective MP’s to Parliament. As soon as one candidate is elected, their extra unneeded First-choice votes are passed on to the next person with the most votes. It means that each of the constituency voters has an MP who represents them.
Labour has in the past shown some approval for PR, but since their landslide victory at the last general election the sniff of continuing as the government has cleared the fresh air of PR out of their nostrils. Farage has stopped thinking about PR now as some media outlets (and his own TV shows) are persuading him that he will be first past the post and into 10 Downing Street at the next expected general election - or sooner. The Tories would clutch at all straws to regain a place ahead of every other party, but I expect they will spread any of their rottenness apple by apple into the Reform barrel where the smell of decay is already apparent.
I am concerned that district and county councils will by amalgamation into large single authorities, be out of touch and their voices not heard.
Next time I’ll try to find a funny subject for my Letter. Laughter is healthy.
Meanwhile, if you can, please help your local Lib. Dem. to spread the word.