With one relatively recent failed referendum on ditching First Past The Post, one would think it would be highly unlikely that the Liberal Democrats' manifesto will include a fresh promise of delivering a voting system referendum.
However, taking a quick examination of the history of the introduction of devolution in Scotland does show there was a failed referendum in 1979, before the Scots subsequently voted yes in 1997.
I could spend hours talking about the many failures of FPTP, ranging from gerrymandering of seats to tactical voting. But it is ultimately the large proportion of wasted votes which illustrates why countries with FPTP tend to have lower voter participation than elsewhere.
The likelihood of the UK heading for a second successive Hung Parliament, if it becomes a reality, will send a clear message to all those smart arses who argue that FPTP delivers decisive majorities! History does show there have been other cycles in Britain's First Past The Post system which failed to produce governments with decisive majorities.
What has now become relatively forgotten are the two general elections in 1951 and 1974, which saw the party with the highest number of votes not win the highest number of seats!
The 2015 General Election will not produce a fresh referendum on electoral reform. But what I believe it will produce is a renewal that the 2011 referendum was certainly not the end of a desire to replace FPTP. In fact, I believe a new cycle towards ridding Britain of this outdated electoral system could now be underway.
However, taking a quick examination of the history of the introduction of devolution in Scotland does show there was a failed referendum in 1979, before the Scots subsequently voted yes in 1997.
I could spend hours talking about the many failures of FPTP, ranging from gerrymandering of seats to tactical voting. But it is ultimately the large proportion of wasted votes which illustrates why countries with FPTP tend to have lower voter participation than elsewhere.
The likelihood of the UK heading for a second successive Hung Parliament, if it becomes a reality, will send a clear message to all those smart arses who argue that FPTP delivers decisive majorities! History does show there have been other cycles in Britain's First Past The Post system which failed to produce governments with decisive majorities.
What has now become relatively forgotten are the two general elections in 1951 and 1974, which saw the party with the highest number of votes not win the highest number of seats!
The 2015 General Election will not produce a fresh referendum on electoral reform. But what I believe it will produce is a renewal that the 2011 referendum was certainly not the end of a desire to replace FPTP. In fact, I believe a new cycle towards ridding Britain of this outdated electoral system could now be underway.