Make My Vote Count

The campaign for voter choice and a more representative parliament

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Post Election Comment

"The British first-past-the-post electoral system has reduced the general election to a travesty of democracy", said David Lipsey, Chair of Make Votes Count. For the 619 results declared by 9.40am today, Labour has secured 55% of the seats with 36% of the vote.The Lib Dems with 22% have secured 11%.

The system is viciously biased against the Tories. Labour led them in share of the vote by only 3% but still has nearly twice as many seats.

"How can a government backed by only one in 4 or 5 of electors - a 36% share of the 60% or so (after 474 results) who turned out - conceivably claim any sort of valid democratic mandate?" he added.

Notes for editors:

Press contacts:
Nina Temple Office: 020 7928 2076, Home: 020 7687 2685 mob: 0777 613 5970
David Lipsey bleeper: 08700 555500 number 802866

Labour's 2005 Manifesto reads:
"Labour remains committed to reviewing the experience of the new electoral systems - introduced for the devolved administrations, the European Parliament and the London Assembly. A referendum remains the right way to agree any change for Westminster." (See page 110 in chapter 9 on Democracy: Power devolved, citizens empowered)