Georgia L. Gilholy: Proportional representation is a loser’s game
Georgia L. Gilholy argues against proportional representation (PR) for the Conservative Party, claiming it is a misguided response to their electoral failures. She believes that the collapse of the Tories is due to their poor governance rather than the first-past-the-post system. Gilholy warns that adopting PR could lead to chaotic coalitions and diminish accountability among politicians.
- ▪Proportional representation has traditionally been associated with the radical Left, but some Conservatives are now considering it after recent electoral losses.
- ▪Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, criticized the current system for allowing Labour to gain a majority with only 34 percent of the vote.
- ▪Gilholy argues that PR would lead to secretive post-election negotiations and reduce the accountability of politicians to voters.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Georgia L Gilholy is a journalist. Like many causes adopted by the Conservative Party, proportional representation was traditionally a hobbyhorse of the radical Left. The old line was that right-wing governments were far too easily produced by Britain’s first-past-the-post system, and votes should translate more neatly into seats. Now, after Labour’s 2024 landslide and Reform UK’s polling surge, some think it would be wise for the Tories to embrace electoral reform. Emma Harrison, Chief Executive of “Make Votes Matter”, recently argued in a comment piece for this site that the right’s fragmentation means first-past-the-post (FPTP) may no longer be a Conservative advantage.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ConservativeHome.
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