Make My Vote Count

The campaign for voter choice and a more representative parliament

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Not a 'general' election

"Thanks to Britain's antediluvian electoral system, this is not a national campaign. It is a campaign in which only the votes of a few thousand voters in marginal seats really count. No wonder so many people won't waste their time turning out. On polling day, it is perfectly possible that the Tories will win most votes while Labour gains a big overall majority. That would expose Britain's democracy as a farcical charade."
    David Lipsey, chair Make Votes Count.

David Lipsey will be commenting regularly on the election on www.makemyvotecount.org.uk. This campaign site will be regularly updated with press releases and other briefings.

Background information:

The power of the floating voter in the marginal seat:
In the Oct 74 election it would have only taken 3 seats to have reversed the result which is only 306 votes from an electorate of over 40 million. Even after the Winter of Discontent in 1979 it would have only taken 23 seats to have kept Thatcher out or 7,899 votes from an electorate of 41 million. Even in the Labour 'landslide' of 1997 it may have taken 90 seats to have reversed the election but that's only 166,067 votes from an electorate of around 44 million. No wonder there is so much voter disatisfaction.

Minority rule:
Since 1974 no government has enjoyed more than 44% share of the votes cast. In 1951 Labour won more votes and the Conservatives won more seats and so formed the government, the reverse happened in 1974. At the last election in 2001 for every five people who voted Labour, seven voted for other parties and eight abstained.

Press contact:
Nina Temple 07776135970