rosenst...@cix.compulink.co.uk wrote:
> use...@bondegezou.demon.co.uk (Henry Potts) wrote:
> > what evidence shows that AV is *generally* less proportional to a significant degree?
>
> It's the consistent record in Australia AIUI. There is also some evidence
> from second preference data that Labour's majorities in the UK in 1997,
> 2001 & 2005 would have been larger under AV. I would suggest that
> unpopular parties will generally lose more heavily under AV than under
> FPTP. So, an AV election now would lead to a heavier Labour defeat than
> under FPTP, just as it would have led to heavier Conservative defeats in
> 1997-2005.

Hmmm... I see. But I would have thought that the LibDems would do
better under AV. So, the LibDem result would be closer to
proportional, which would make the overall result more proportional.
--
Henry

In article 
, 
usenet@bondegezou.demon.co.uk (Henry Potts) wrote:

> rosenst...@cix.compulink.co.uk wrote:
> > use...@bondegezou.demon.co.uk (Henry Potts) wrote:
> > > what evidence shows that AV is *generally* less proportional to 
> > > a significant degree?
> >
> > It's the consistent record in Australia AIUI. There is also some 
> > evidence from second preference data that Labour's majorities in the 
> > UK in 1997, 2001 & 2005 would have been larger under AV. I would
> > suggest that unpopular parties will generally lose more heavily under 
> > AV than under FPTP. So, an AV election now would lead to a heavier 
> > Labour defeat than under FPTP, just as it would have led to heavier 
> > Conservative defeats in 1997-2005.
> 
> Hmmm... I see. But I would have thought that the LibDems would do
> better under AV. So, the LibDem result would be closer to
> proportional, which would make the overall result more proportional.

That is why some Lib Dems are tempted, I agree. But it won't stop 
unjustified majoritarian governments not backed by the voters so, in my 
view, even though I am a Lib Dem, it's not acceptable.

-- 
Cllr. Colin Rosenstiel
Council member, Electoral Reform Society
http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/
mailto:ers@electoral-reform.org.uk