Rise In Lib Dem Support Opens Up Debate On Electoral Reform

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8643955.stm

I have always been in favour of the First Past the Post voting system as it has, on nearly all occasions, led to a decisive majority for one party.

As a result we have a strong government able to successfully push through its agenda without having to rely on the support of smaller more extreme or fringe parties to do so.

We only have to look at last year's Euro Elections to see how the more proportional voting system used led to the election of two BNP candidates to the European Parliament.

That is a very strong argument against changing our current system of electing MPs.

However, is it really fair that one party should win a majority of seats in the House of Commons with the support of less than half of the electorate?

And is it right, if the results of recent opinion polls are to be believed, that a party who gains only the third-largest share of the popular vote still can win more Parliamentary seats than a party who has the greater support of the electorate?

The huge rise in support for the Lib Dems has raised very important issues about the fairness of our current electoral system.

Labour has already promised a referendum on replacing the First Past the Post system, should they win a fourth term in government.

It is high time Electoral Reform was given greater priority on the political agenda.