Post by James G on Oct 19, 2020 19:01:35 GMT
As part of the Representation in Democracy Bill passed by the Labour Government in 2008, general elections held after that date - in 2010, 2015 & 2019 - have seen voters in Britain given two votes. They vote for an MP and also for a party.
The 'additional member system' gives a top-up to the number of MPs who serve in the House of Commons. There are those who represent (greatly expanded from 2008 size) consistencies and those from published party lists. Of the 500 MPs in total, one hundred of those are from the latter category.
Political parties registered with the Electoral Commission are entitled to produce a list of prospective MPs. One per cent of the vote on the second of two ballots cast by voters gives one 'top-up' MP. However, a caveat means that that party must receive 5% of the vote overall, otherwise those votes will not count and be added elsewhere. Thus a party who might receive 4% of the vote on the second ballot will not get to send four MPs to Parliament unless they have achieved 5% or above on both ballots.
The results for the general election last year are as follows:
Conservative Party - 207 constituency seats + 18 additional seats - Total MPs of 225
Labour Party - 134 constituency seats + 17 additional seats - Total MPs of 151
Scottish National Party - 31 constituency seats + 10 additional seats - Total MPs of 41
Liberal Democrat Party - 6 constituency seats + 21 additional seats - Total MPs of 27
British Independence Party - 1 constituency seats + 9 additional seats - Total MPs of 10
Democratic Unionist Party (Ulster) - 8 constituency seats + 2 additional seats - Total MPs of 10
Sinn Fein (Ulster) - 6 constituency seats + 2 additional seats - Total MPs of 8
Green Party of England & Wales - 1 constituency seats + 6 additional seats - Total MPs of 7
Plaid Cymru (Wales) - 3 constituency seats + 3 additional seats - Total MPs of 6
Alliance Party (Ulster) - 1 constituency seats + 3 additional seats - Total MPs of 4
Yorkshire Party - 0 constituency seats + 4 additional seats - Total MPs of 4
Social Democratic & Labour Party (Ulster) - 2 constituency seats + 1 additional seats - Total MPs of 3
Scottish Green Party - 0 constituency seats + 2 additional seats - Total MPs of 2
Ulster Unionist Party (Ulster) - 0 constituency seats + 2 additional seats - Total MPs of 2
Taking into account the Speaker and the neutrality he/she will be expected to preform in his/her role, to form a government a majority of two hundred and fifty MPs is needed... yet with the absentee policy by Sinn Fein, who will not take their seats, a lesser number of 246 is just about do-able. No party achieves this in this election.
The incumbent Conservatives are once more forced to take on allies in a series of confidence & supply agreements where they will once more be a minority government. The new BIP joins with the DUP and the Yorkshire Party in supporting the Conservatives in the Commons... making outrageous demands to get what they want too.
The 'additional member system' gives a top-up to the number of MPs who serve in the House of Commons. There are those who represent (greatly expanded from 2008 size) consistencies and those from published party lists. Of the 500 MPs in total, one hundred of those are from the latter category.
Political parties registered with the Electoral Commission are entitled to produce a list of prospective MPs. One per cent of the vote on the second of two ballots cast by voters gives one 'top-up' MP. However, a caveat means that that party must receive 5% of the vote overall, otherwise those votes will not count and be added elsewhere. Thus a party who might receive 4% of the vote on the second ballot will not get to send four MPs to Parliament unless they have achieved 5% or above on both ballots.
The results for the general election last year are as follows:
Conservative Party - 207 constituency seats + 18 additional seats - Total MPs of 225
Labour Party - 134 constituency seats + 17 additional seats - Total MPs of 151
Scottish National Party - 31 constituency seats + 10 additional seats - Total MPs of 41
Liberal Democrat Party - 6 constituency seats + 21 additional seats - Total MPs of 27
British Independence Party - 1 constituency seats + 9 additional seats - Total MPs of 10
Democratic Unionist Party (Ulster) - 8 constituency seats + 2 additional seats - Total MPs of 10
Sinn Fein (Ulster) - 6 constituency seats + 2 additional seats - Total MPs of 8
Green Party of England & Wales - 1 constituency seats + 6 additional seats - Total MPs of 7
Plaid Cymru (Wales) - 3 constituency seats + 3 additional seats - Total MPs of 6
Alliance Party (Ulster) - 1 constituency seats + 3 additional seats - Total MPs of 4
Yorkshire Party - 0 constituency seats + 4 additional seats - Total MPs of 4
Social Democratic & Labour Party (Ulster) - 2 constituency seats + 1 additional seats - Total MPs of 3
Scottish Green Party - 0 constituency seats + 2 additional seats - Total MPs of 2
Ulster Unionist Party (Ulster) - 0 constituency seats + 2 additional seats - Total MPs of 2
Taking into account the Speaker and the neutrality he/she will be expected to preform in his/her role, to form a government a majority of two hundred and fifty MPs is needed... yet with the absentee policy by Sinn Fein, who will not take their seats, a lesser number of 246 is just about do-able. No party achieves this in this election.
The incumbent Conservatives are once more forced to take on allies in a series of confidence & supply agreements where they will once more be a minority government. The new BIP joins with the DUP and the Yorkshire Party in supporting the Conservatives in the Commons... making outrageous demands to get what they want too.