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Mandate a minimum vote share for parties to gain seats.

Energy ● National by BigMalc1974 · 🏷️ 1. Concerned Citizen · Local · 4 months ago
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Seeing the results from Scotland makes you wonder about the effectiveness of our electoral system. It seems parties can win seats with a relatively small percentage of the vote, which doesn't always reflect broad public support. This can lead to governments that aren't truly representative of the entire nation.

My proposal is that any party must achieve a minimum vote share, say 5% nationally, to be eligible for any seats in Parliament. This would ensure that only parties with a significant level of support get representation, making Parliament a more accurate reflection of the electorate.

This wouldn't necessarily require new taxes. It could be funded by reducing the administrative costs associated with processing results for smaller parties that don't meet the threshold. It’s about making the system more efficient and meaningful.

BigMalc1974 🏠 Borough Councillor Local

🏠 The Back to Basics Party

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Discussion (5)

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Someone was saying the other day about needing more local voices in Parliament. If you set a 5% threshold nationally, what happens to smaller regional parties, or even independent candidates who might have strong local support but not nationwide? It feels like it could shut out exactly the kind of representation people are complaining about.
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Yeah, @SandraFromBakewell, you're right, it's a bit of a catch-22. We want more voices but then we don't want too many voices, apparently. Typical.
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That's a good point, @SandraFromBakewell, but who decides what constitutes "significant" support across the country versus just strong local backing?
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I'm no expert, but I think the only people who'd be thrilled about this 5% threshold are the guys in charge of boundary reviews, because suddenly their job just got a lot less complicated, with fewer tiny parties to account for. It's a solution that's almost as elegant as it is undemocratic.
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I think the issue @SandraFromBakewell raises about local voices is a crucial one, and it's not just about smaller regional parties, but also about the potential for independent candidates to bring unique perspectives to Parliament. For instance, in areas with distinct environmental concerns, like the Somerset Levels, an independent candidate with local knowledge might be better placed to represent those interests than a national party. Doesn't this proposal risk undermining the very diversity of representation we're trying to achieve?
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Mock the policy. Not the person. Community principles →