Pearson Edexcel A-level Politics 9PL0
Compare the arguments, then take a position
Paper 1, Section A: UK Politics source question
- Specification
- 3.1 Electoral systems; 3.3 Electoral-system analysis
- Marks
- 30
- Suggested time
- 45 minutes
- Calculator
- Not permitted
The two views below discuss whether first-past-the-post should continue to elect the House of Commons.
View A: An election should produce a government that can act and that voters can remove. First-past-the-post usually makes responsibility clearer than bargaining between parties after an election. Every constituency also has an identifiable MP. In 2024, voters decisively removed the governing party and a new government obtained a working majority. A system should be judged by accountability and effective government, rather than proportionality alone.
View B: Voters should have comparable influence over Parliament. In 2024, Labour won a clear majority of seats with about one third of the vote, while Reform UK gained many votes but few seats. This weakens the claim that a parliamentary majority necessarily represents majority public support. Local representation could be retained in a reformed system. Government effectiveness matters, but it does not justify excluding large groups of voters from fair representation.
The table shows results from the general election of 4 July 2024.
| Party | UK vote share | Seats out of 650 |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 33.7% | 411 |
| Liberal Democrats | 12.2% | 72 |
| Reform UK | 14.3% | 5 |
Question Using the source, evaluate the view that first-past-the-post should be retained for elections to the House of Commons. Compare its arguments and develop them with relevant political knowledge.
30 marks