UK poll shows proportional representation is better
Ref: "Cameron sweeps to shock triumph", UK Election, May 9.
Could we learn from the weakness of the current UK single-member constituency system?
The sweeping triumph would not have been so decisive had the election been based on proportional representation as adopted by most European countries.
Either the Conservative Party or Labour Party could have formed the government if they could coax other splinter parties to join them to form a coalition.
Conservatives commanded 37 per cent of the votes, Labour 30 per cent, UK Independent Party 13 per cent, Liberal Democrats 8 per cent, Scottish National 5 per cent, Greens 4 per cent and others 4 per cent.
Based on the constituency system, out of 650 seats, the Conservatives hold a majority of 331 (51 per cent of seats when it secured only 37 per cent of the votes) while the UKIP and Greens secured 17 per cent but only got one seat each – 0.3 per cent of the 650.
For the first time, the call for reform of the electoral system in the UK has become credible. This is due to the weakening of the British two-party system of Conservatives and Labour with the irrelevant Liberals. The splintered parties have now become formidable and their voices need to be heard in full.
Since 1932, Thailand has followed the UK system because of our then rightful belief that Great Britain was the mother of democracy.
Well, this UK election result tells us that our blind belief in the constituency electoral system may not be fair and the European system may make more sense where proportional representation and coalition governments are the norm.
Songdej Praditsmanont
Bangkok
