That is true now, because for historical reasons the Lib Dems managed to maintain that position of third party. It doesn't mean it would be that way if you actually had PR elections. UKIP and the BNP would see rather significant vote increases, and not all of it at the expense of the Tories. In addition, PR would put an end to the incumbency advantage that limits the losses of the big parties when they lose an election. If this election had been under PR, I dare say Labour would've gotten a fair few less votes than they got now, not merely fewer seats.
Of course, if your point is just about natural alliances, it's true that under PR, even with significant changes of the kind I described, the Tories would have a disadvantage in that the right-wing would be splintered in three parties, one of which is absolutely not viable for a coalition. But then, PR might also create changes within the parties, and perhaps force Labour and the Lib Dems to make the distinction between them a bit sharper, or even cause parts of parties to defect to others.
Of course, if your point is just about natural alliances, it's true that under PR, even with significant changes of the kind I described, the Tories would have a disadvantage in that the right-wing would be splintered in three parties, one of which is absolutely not viable for a coalition. But then, PR might also create changes within the parties, and perhaps force Labour and the Lib Dems to make the distinction between them a bit sharper, or even cause parts of parties to defect to others.
I would expect a splntering of all the major parties, since the nature of the current system forces people to generally go with what is a fairly crude match to their ideals as the parties try to control their warring factions. I was trying to use current voting trends in a very general way - the Tory side of the spectrum usually does much worse in elections that the Lib Dem/ Labour end, which I think reasonable to see as something that wouldn't be changed by PR.
None of this really happened in Scotland when we got PR, why is everyone sure it will happen in England?
Lib Dems: Up 1% of the vote, down 10% of the seats.
07/05/2010 09:29:03 AM
- 1587 Views
So what would you move to?
07/05/2010 09:53:51 AM
- 899 Views
I imagine if the UK changes it will move to Proportional Representation
07/05/2010 10:04:38 AM
- 970 Views
God I hate the British system
07/05/2010 10:24:35 AM
- 1004 Views
It's an excellent morning. Conservatives are at 301 right now. *NM*
07/05/2010 01:57:52 PM
- 530 Views
Indeed
07/05/2010 02:22:37 PM
- 1036 Views
I love how they're calling that option "The Coalition of the Losers".
07/05/2010 02:27:56 PM
- 949 Views
They are? Where?
07/05/2010 02:38:01 PM
- 1072 Views
On the lovely BBC. Paxman, Robinson, Dimbleby et al.
07/05/2010 02:52:01 PM
- 967 Views
Ah, we have it on but with the sound turned down - the subtitlers must be skipping that phrase
07/05/2010 03:13:57 PM
- 917 Views
The thing with PR is, the current vote results are a horrid predictor for PR vote results.
07/05/2010 03:45:58 PM
- 960 Views
Re: The thing with PR is, the current vote results are a horrid predictor for PR vote results.
07/05/2010 03:52:19 PM
- 993 Views
I'm sure it would be a setup for new elections in a few months if they did. *NM*
07/05/2010 02:40:49 PM
- 532 Views
I suspect we'll get one of those anyway.
07/05/2010 02:52:32 PM
- 945 Views
What is the general consensus on who would win or lose from new elections?
07/05/2010 02:57:04 PM
- 1096 Views
I've not heard any comment on this yet. I might have missed some.
07/05/2010 02:58:00 PM
- 974 Views
Not being talked about yet - I'd guess whoever is PM will lose though
07/05/2010 03:21:23 PM
- 1095 Views
Re: Not being talked about yet - I'd guess whoever is PM will lose though
07/05/2010 03:29:37 PM
- 1082 Views
Re: Not being talked about yet - I'd guess whoever is PM will lose though
07/05/2010 04:04:03 PM
- 982 Views
I suspect a great deal of the problem is George Osborn
07/05/2010 04:09:51 PM
- 989 Views
Re: I suspect a great deal of the problem is George Osborn
07/05/2010 04:24:56 PM
- 864 Views
I'm sure he is
07/05/2010 04:25:20 PM
- 994 Views
Heh.
07/05/2010 04:27:44 PM
- 1036 Views
Re: Heh.
07/05/2010 04:43:18 PM
- 1030 Views
His talking about "Portillo moments" was one of the best parts of the BBC's election broadcast. *NM*
07/05/2010 08:14:11 PM
- 576 Views
If they got PR as part of the deal it would be worth it
07/05/2010 02:42:36 PM
- 1077 Views
Possibly.
07/05/2010 02:53:28 PM
- 1098 Views
Re: Possibly.
07/05/2010 03:00:55 PM
- 919 Views
Sylvia Hermon the independent unionist would probably support them as well
07/05/2010 02:44:35 PM
- 982 Views
Re: Indeed
07/05/2010 03:45:00 PM
- 996 Views
Re: Indeed
07/05/2010 03:59:41 PM
- 1086 Views
Well I'm fairly sure some Shinners have attended Tory conferences in the past
07/05/2010 04:05:56 PM
- 918 Views
The breakdown is pretty wack
07/05/2010 11:07:20 AM
- 950 Views
Tell me about it.
07/05/2010 11:14:44 AM
- 947 Views
I'm in the Cities of London and Westminster constituency.
07/05/2010 11:56:04 AM
- 977 Views
A simple change is all
07/05/2010 01:16:16 PM
- 990 Views
Not that simple
07/05/2010 02:45:00 PM
- 927 Views
Because my school was a polling station we used to get the day off every polling day
07/05/2010 02:51:18 PM
- 1090 Views
Re: Not that simple
07/05/2010 03:04:57 PM
- 1090 Views
PR is hardly too difficult to implement and is much more democratic
07/05/2010 02:48:01 PM
- 963 Views
What's amazing is that the exit polls are actually looking astonishingly correct, now. Huh. *NM*
07/05/2010 03:35:12 PM
- 501 Views
As soon as i turned on the TV, i was being told the Exit polls must be wrong
07/05/2010 03:47:15 PM
- 898 Views
Oh, and the other interesting thing will be seeing whether the Conservatives offer....
07/05/2010 03:57:52 PM
- 1050 Views
Until you bring Lady Thatcher back, all of your elections are just pick-the-least-offensive anyway. *NM*
07/05/2010 04:08:32 PM
- 504 Views
Well her son is good at starting coups, so maybe he might be hired for her return. *NM*
07/05/2010 04:28:52 PM
- 535 Views
Whatever it takes. *NM*
07/05/2010 04:31:13 PM
- 480 Views
Please no, the milk stealer is still used to frighten children in Scotland
07/05/2010 04:47:26 PM
- 913 Views
OK here is the map of England by constituency, blue Tory, red NUlab
07/05/2010 05:00:20 PM
- 938 Views
So I'm just one of those upstart colonists....explain to me what is going on....
07/05/2010 05:26:59 PM
- 918 Views
Basically...
07/05/2010 06:43:10 PM
- 954 Views
And things are changing already
08/05/2010 04:08:47 PM
- 1036 Views
I thought they weren't allowed to do that if Brown isn't Prime Minister?
08/05/2010 04:52:39 PM
- 1000 Views
If i were the tories
07/05/2010 11:28:43 PM
- 973 Views
That is hilarious. Both Brown and Dimbleby have been around for a while, huh?
07/05/2010 11:59:58 PM
- 1273 Views
Re: That is hilarious. Both Brown and Dimbleby have been around for a while, huh?
08/05/2010 06:11:38 PM
- 1024 Views
Hmmm
13/05/2010 12:08:04 PM
- 1284 Views
How was he supposed to know that at the time he made the post?
13/05/2010 09:52:24 PM
- 1389 Views
Re: How was he supposed to know that at the time he made the post?
13/05/2010 10:59:35 PM
- 987 Views