How we can smash Britain’s two-party system for good at the next election | George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
Labour is beyond repair. Time for a co-ordinated strategy to support progressive parties committed to electoral reform, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

George Monbiot suggests that Labour shouldn’t be supported because they’re now pushing right-wing policies, in his view.

So he thinks people should tactically support progressive parties who support electoral reform (Lib Dems, Greens, SNP, Plaid Cymru), which may hopefully then lead to electoral reform, so that we end up with proportional representation. Then Brits will have more choices than effectively just two parties for future elections.

Thoughts?

  • manicdave@feddit.uk
    121·
    2 months ago

    I kind of agree. I don’t think we’re getting PR any time soon. But Labours attempt to emulate the US two party model needs to be demonstrated to be a resounding failure.

    • SleafordMod@feddit.ukOPEnglish
      2·
      2 months ago

      Yeah PR probably won’t happen for years at least. I hope we get it at some point though.

      • futatorius@lemm.ee
        14·
        2 months ago

        Look at countries that have it. They’re no better off than countries with FPTP. It sounds good in theory, but if you do some game-theoretical analysis of the system, you’ll see that, just like any other conceivable electoral system, it has edge cases that can lead to anomalous outcomes, and you can be sure that those who work the system will exploit those.

        • SleafordMod@feddit.ukOPEnglish
          4·
          2 months ago

          I think the Netherlands and Germany both have proportional representation and their parliaments have a bigger mix of parties, representing the interests of different sections of society.

          I don’t favour PR because I think PR would be a better vehicle for my personal political views. I favour PR because I think a more democratic system is by itself a good thing. Under PR, every vote counts. But under FPTP, if you vote for a smaller party that has no chance of winning your constituency, your vote is essentially worthless.