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Politics

The election when first past the post lost

One part of the result is crystal clear even before polling day: our electoral system no longer functions

9 May 2015

9:00 AM

9 May 2015

9:00 AM

The defence of the Westminster first-past-the-post voting system is that while it’s certainly unfair, it delivers decisive results. A relatively small swing in support from one party to another can deliver the kind of parliamentary majority that ensures fully functioning government. This worked well when British politics was a two-party business, and pretty well when it became a three-party affair.

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