Hardy Annual

Alan J0hnson, perhaps the future leader of the Labour Party, has rediscovered electoral reform. NuLabour were interested before the 1997 election, and dangled it before the LibDems, even setting up a commission under Roy Jenkins. By the time he reported Nulabour had achieved a huge majority, didn't need the LibDems prop and so kicked the whole thing unto the long grass.

Now, with the prospect of years in the wilderness, (Nu)Labour could hang on again with the LibDems, who are keen because they would have the possibility of power although still very much a minority party. Both, of course, will look at anything which keeps out the Conservatives.

The claim is made that Proportional Representation is fairer because each vote carries an equal vote. That is true up to a point, but if a smaller party, with say, 15% of the vote, enters into a controlling majority coalition, and gains concessions in policies, then it is true to say that these policies may be held only by 15% of the electorate. Minor parties in coalition, a usual situation, would over years exercise an influence out of all proportion to their size.

The other problems with PR, are the tendency to divorce the elector from the representative, which seems to have been one of the reasons for the present disenchantment with politicians. The proposal from the Jenkins commission which was to have "top up" MPs from party lists to adjust party numbers to accord with overall vote shares. These extra MPs would have no constituency. The extra MPs would be chosen by party machinery, of course, and would be accountable to no voters in particular.

In the end PR in trying to compensate for one problem, causes others which are arguably as bad.

Within the "defective" present "first past the post" system, there is much which could be done to improve the state of political arrangements.

To cover the present situation of "safe" seats, open primaries and recall of representatives would make sure no-one hasa job for life.

To weaken the stranglehold of the present elective dictatorship, much could be done to weaken the power of whips, by having the membership of select committees and chairmen by secret ballot, for instance. I would go further and insist that a majority of seats on these is allocated to opposition parties.