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PR rejected for general elections PR rejected for general elections
(about 2 hours later)
Proportional representation (PR) would not increase turnout at a general election, a government study says. Ministers have backed the UK's voting system after a review said a move to Proportional Representation (PR) would not boost turnout.
In 1997 Labour pledged a referendum on scrapping "first-past-the-post" voting, which opponents say is unfair.In 1997 Labour pledged a referendum on scrapping "first-past-the-post" voting, which opponents say is unfair.
The policy was later dropped but Gordon Brown promised to revisit the issue when he took over as prime minister.The policy was later dropped but Gordon Brown promised to revisit the issue when he took over as prime minister.
But a review of voting in Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish and European elections, which all use a form of PR, has seen no case for change. But a review of PR voting in Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish and European elections said voters were confused.
The review found the public had been confused by new voting systems. It said PR had resulted in more parties being represented in the devolved administrations but also had a tendency to produce coalition governments.
It said PR had resulted in more parties being represented in the devolved administrations but also had a tendency to produce coalition governments
Referendum pledgeReferendum pledge
If PR was introduced in Westminster elections, constituencies could be represented by more than one MP, said the review.If PR was introduced in Westminster elections, constituencies could be represented by more than one MP, said the review.
The current voting system for UK general elections works well Michael WillsJustice Minister Time for voting change?The current voting system for UK general elections works well Michael WillsJustice Minister Time for voting change?
But there is no guarantee PR would increase turnout in a general election or make Parliament more diverse, the report says.But there is no guarantee PR would increase turnout in a general election or make Parliament more diverse, the report says.
It also warns that it could cause complications between the House of Commons and the House of Lords.It also warns that it could cause complications between the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Justice Minister Michael Wills said the review was "an important contribution to the ongoing debate about voting systems".Justice Minister Michael Wills said the review was "an important contribution to the ongoing debate about voting systems".
He added: "We hope this review will inform that ongoing debate but we do so in the firm belief that the current voting system for UK general elections works well, and that any future change would require the consent of the British people in a referendum.He added: "We hope this review will inform that ongoing debate but we do so in the firm belief that the current voting system for UK general elections works well, and that any future change would require the consent of the British people in a referendum.
"Voting systems must not become a focus of partisan action but need to endure for many years.""Voting systems must not become a focus of partisan action but need to endure for many years."
Of the three main parties, only the Liberal Democrats are committed to proportional representation at Westminster and are likely to push for it as the price of a deal with Labour or the Tories in the event of a hung parliament after the next general election.Of the three main parties, only the Liberal Democrats are committed to proportional representation at Westminster and are likely to push for it as the price of a deal with Labour or the Tories in the event of a hung parliament after the next general election.