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Electoral Systems

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Justice – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 28th October 2008.

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Photo of Gisela Stuart Gisela Stuart Labour, Birmingham, Edgbaston 2:30 pm, 28th October 2008

Whatever the merits of proportional representation, will my right hon. Friend, in his review of electoral systems, take another look at the system that was employed in the European elections, and probably conclude that a closed list system is just about the worst of all possibilities?

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Anthony Tuffin
Posted on 29 Oct 2008 2:43 pm (Report this annotation)

The one advantage that a closed list system has is that it is at least party proportionate, but Ms Stuart is otherwise right that it is about the worst of all possibilities.

The best system is the Single Transferable Vote (STV), which provides not only proportionality between parties and other groupings but also freedom of choice for voters, with representatives who are beholden to voters instead of party machines.