Comments on: Overtaking Labour’s vote share lead http://elleeseymour.com/2009/11/17/overtaking-labours-vote-share-lead/ PRESS CONSULTANT, JOURNALIST, GHOSTWRITER, POLITICAL AND PR BLOGGER. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:22:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Mark Reckons http://elleeseymour.com/2009/11/17/overtaking-labours-vote-share-lead/comment-page-1/#comment-177329 Mark Reckons Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:24:24 +0000 http://elleeseymour.com/2009/11/17/overtaking-labours-vote-share-lead/#comment-177329 The rotten electoral system does favour Labour more than the Conservatives. The figures you quote I think are related to England only - in the UK overall Labour got about 35% of the vote and 55% of the seats. But the system massively favours both major parties over all the smaller parties. In a good year something like 42% or 43% would likely give you more than 50% of the seats so it's a bit rich to complain about the electoral system unless you are willing to embrace proper proportional change. Regarding the end of your post, I think you might be right. It may well be the case that the Conservatives only get a very small majority in May/June next year but what makes you think that in another election a year hence it would establish a strong and convincing lead? If anything, given the economic difficulties Cameron would face under those circumstances I would suggest if anything it would be likely to result in fewer seats for the Conservatives. The rotten electoral system does favour Labour more than the Conservatives. The figures you quote I think are related to England only – in the UK overall Labour got about 35% of the vote and 55% of the seats. But the system massively favours both major parties over all the smaller parties. In a good year something like 42% or 43% would likely give you more than 50% of the seats so it’s a bit rich to complain about the electoral system unless you are willing to embrace proper proportional change.

Regarding the end of your post, I think you might be right. It may well be the case that the Conservatives only get a very small majority in May/June next year but what makes you think that in another election a year hence it would establish a strong and convincing lead? If anything, given the economic difficulties Cameron would face under those circumstances I would suggest if anything it would be likely to result in fewer seats for the Conservatives.

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