What it's like to be well hung?

The first past the post electoral system has created this situation and it is a change in the electoral system that will get us out of it. 

The only way Liberal Democrats are ever going to change the voting system is by winning a majority of seats under the first past the post system, or by entering into an arrangement with another party or parties to secure a majority in Parliament to reform the system.

The 2010 election results dictate that the only two party agreement that can command a majority in the House of Commons – other than a Conservative Labour coalition – is between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.  

Any arrangement with Labour would fall short of a majority and require the support of Nationalist, Northern Ireland, and other minor parties.

Were the Conservatives to offer a change to the electoral system the Liberal Democrats could not refuse to support them in the interests of stability and reform. 

The Conservatives are offering to jettison large parts of their manifesto and accept a number of Liberal Democrat manifesto commitments in order to secure a coalition deal.  But the Conservatives are only offering a referendum on the Alternative Voting system.  This is not a reform of the electoral system.  It is simply a poll on a voting system that like first past the post is not proportional.  It doesn’t bring a proportional voting system that gives people real power over politicians any closer.  It is not the political reform that was hoped for by the electorate. 

However, we are where we are and it would be a disaster if we were to prolong the uncertainty and instability the first past the post electoral system has thrown up.  Thanks to Labour MPs today ruling out what would have been a fragile agreement the Liberal Democrats have no choice but to put the country first and act responsibly with the Conservatives.

Comments

[Daniel J]

The coalition agreement has a provision for a referendum on the Alternate Vote. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't AV a very minor improvement over FPTP?