Electoral system changes could alter political landscape

May 11 2010 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

CHANGES to the electoral system could end Labour’s dominance in the North East.

The Electoral Reform Society has shown how the region would look if the latest election results were counted under the two different methods being debated behind closed doors in Whitehall.

In the Liberal Democrats’ preferred method of change, the Single Transferable Vote, the North East would have 13 Labour MPs, down from 25, with the Conservatives and Lib Dems on eight each, up from two each.

Nationally, the Electorial Reform Society that, under STV, the Tories would have gained 246 seats, with Labour on 207 and the Liberal Democrats 162. Under AV, the Tories would have won 281 seats to Labour’s 262 and the Lib Dems’ 79. The actual result saw the Tories win 306, Labour 258 and the Lib Dems 57.

The STV method is designed for multi-member “districts” rather than single-candidate constituencies, candidates would need a known “quota” or share of the votes to be elected, rather than a majority. Each voter would rank candidates in order of preference; the votes would then be transferred if necessary from candidates who were comfortably elected or have done so badly that they have been eliminated.

Under the proposed Alternative Vote system offered to the Liberal Democrats last night there would be little difference in the region.

The Conservatives would got from two to one MP, Labour would actually gain one and the Libs remain on two.