What we voted for on Thursday

Conservative 234 (36%)
Labour 189 (29%)
Lib Dem 149 (23%)
Other 78 (12%)

This was based on actual voting over the whole of the UK . In practice, many people would probably have voted differently (not tactically) with an election by STV. Also, the seats could be calculated more accurately by looking at each of the UK's constituent nations separately. Nevertheless, these figures give an approximate overall picture that is very different from the one below.

What we got

Conservative 307 (47%)
Labour 261 (40%)
Lib Dem 54 (8%)
Other 28 (4%)

This assumes the Conservatives win Thirsk & Malton where a bye-election is being held on 27 May because of the death of the UKIP candidate. (Although a new constituency, it is regarded as safe Conservative.)

See it in colour

Liberal Democrat Voice shows in coloured diagrams what we voted for and what we got: http://www.libdemvoice.org/proportion-matters-the-diagram-that-shows-the...

Could the Tories rule without the Lib Dems?

Probably so, because they have nearly half the seats, but the administration would be much more stable with Lib Dem support. Tories really need to understand how electoral reform, especially STV, would benefit the nation and how STV fits their rhetoric about freedom of choice.

Could Labour rule without the Lib Dems?


Certainly not. They simply don't have enough seats and, even with Lib Dem support, they'd need support or at least acquiescence from elsewhere, such as SNP and Plaid Cymru so they really need to concede drastically to Lib Dem demands for STV if they want to stay in power.

Can the Lib Dems secure STV in a balanced parliament?

You can see my articles on this subject in Liberal Democrat Voice: http://www.libdemvoice.org/ - one pre- and one post-election and you can see my open letter to Nick Clegg on www.stvAction.org.uk.

Could either the Conservatives or Labour concede enough to the Lib Dems to secure their support?


The problem is that, even if the leadership was willing to concede STV or perhaps some other, inferior PR system, it may be unable to carry the party with it.

Here's a reforming programme that either the Conservatives or Labour may just be able to concede and the Lib Dems may just be able to accept:
Preferential voting for all public elections. That would mean AV for all Parliamentary bye-elections and the next General Election, STV for Euro-elections, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly. It would also mean a mixture of AV and STV for local elections in England and Wales depending on where there are single- and multi-member wards.
Legislation for a referendum for the subsequent General Election to be by STV.
All this to be achieved before dissolution.
This programme would probably also be acceptable to SNP and Plaid Cymru, which would be essential if Labour led the next government.

Obviously, there would also have to be agreement on other policies, but they are outside the scope of STV News.

More STV news

I draw your attention to www.stvAction.org.uk which contains much material relevant to STV not to be found on any other site. I hope you find it interesting and useful.

Electoral reform news generally

There is a lot of news about electoral reform now and there will probably be more if, as expected, the election result does not reflect the votes. You can set up your own Google Alert for news of electoral reform or, indeed, any other subject.

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