The Case for Reform (continued)

2. The Failure of First-Past-The-Post

First-Past-The-Post often produces unrepresentative councils

Our present FPTP system of voting often distorts the wishes of the voters. It can result in councils that are not representative of the communities they serve. That can reduce their perceived legitimacy.

All parties suffer from being seriously under-represented in some councils. Proportionality would ensure a degree of fairness to all parties and to the voters.

Greatly exaggerated Majorities

FPTP often gives greatly exaggerated majorities to winning parties and leaves significant minorities without representation. This has resulted in many councils in Scotland being dominated by one party. In such councils there is a danger that political representation will be distorted, turning them into fiefdoms with little or no opposition.

For example - 1999 local elections:

Angus: the SNP polled 46.5% of the vote and won 21 of the 29 seats (72.4%)
Glasgow: the Labour Party polled 49.6% of the vote and won 74 of the 79 seats (93.6%)

Where there is little or no elected opposition it weakens political debate. The council chamber can become sterile with all real debate taking place behind closed doors in party caucuses. The opposition is unable to play its vital role in scrutinising decisions and ensuring accountability of the ruling group and officers.

Where an effective opposition is lacking, it is not only bad for local democracy, but for the efficient running of local councils. It is not surprising that allegations of corruption and malpractice have come predominantly from councils that have had a long-standing domination by one political party.

Uncontested seats

A further disadvantage of FPTP is that the outcome of elections is a foregone conclusion in many wards. One party has such a large majority that votes for opposing parties are no more than futile gestures. Sometimes opposing parties decide that is not even worth standing a candidate.

Uncontested seats can be a particular problem in one-party dominated councils. For example in Berwickshire District Council in 1992 nine out of 12 wards were uncontested. This further undermines local democracy and effectively disenfranchises many voters.

Wrong Party Wins

Not only does FPTP have the effect of giving an exaggerated majority for the largest party, it can have the effect of giving a majority of seats to a party that got less votes than its main opponent.

This happened in elections for the House of Commons in 1929, 1951 and February 1974. But it also happens from time to time in local government elections.

For example in the 1992 City Council elections in Edinburgh the Conservative Party polled approximately 40% of the vote and won 37% of the seats, whereas the Labour Party polled approximately 29% of the vote and won 40% of the seats.

There have also been occasions when Labour has been the loser. In East Kilbride in 1974 Labour were four points ahead of the SNP in votes – but gained two seats fewer.