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October 11, 2006
Myth 5: Proportional representation means that the small parties call the shots
One of the most common arguments against proportional representation of any kind is that, in a three-party system such as the UK's, where no one party has enough votes for a majority, the third party, in our case the Liberal Democrats, get to 'call the shots' and decide who to form a coalition government with.
This is a possibility. It's not, however, a probability. As mentioned above, parties seen to be sacrificing principles for power can meet with almighty electoral backlashes. Moreover, if the third party is really to 'call the shots', it must be able to threaten to jump ship and join the other big party, or its influence will be limited to that granted by its popular support.
Parties switching allegiance in such a manner happens rarely, but when it does, the voters are not quick to endorse it. Although the FDP pulled off this trick in 1982-83 in Germany, it is hard to see British voters turning out in much force for a Liberal Democrat party that tried to do the same thing.
The truth is that third parties acting as a coalition partner have limited control over policy decisions. They remain the subservient partner, just as their vote share would indicate. Study of the policies put forward in the partnership agreements that formed Labour-Lib Dem coalitions in Scotland in 1999 and 2003 shows that the influence of Labour manifesto policies was much stronger than that of the Lib Dems.
Posted by pauldavies on October 11, 2006
