//requireed files include_once get_template_directory()."/includes/helpers.php"; define('BUNYAD_THEME_VERSION', '10.2.1'); // Already initialized - some buggy plugin call? if (class_exists('Bunyad_Core')) { return; } /** * Initialize Framework * * Include the Bunyad_Base and extend it using our theme-specific class. */ require_once get_theme_file_path('lib/bunyad.php'); require_once get_theme_file_path('inc/bunyad.php'); /** * Main Theme File: Contains most theme-related functionality * * See file: inc/theme.php */ require_once get_theme_file_path('inc/theme.php'); // Fire up the theme - make available in Bunyad::get('theme') Bunyad::register('theme', [ 'class' => 'Bunyad_Theme_SmartMag', 'init' => true ]); // Legacy compat: Alias Bunyad::register('smart_mag', ['object' => Bunyad::get('theme')]); /** * Main Framework Configuration */ $bunyad = Bunyad::core()->init(apply_filters('bunyad_init_config', [ // Due to legacy compatibility, it's named smartmag without dash. 'theme_name' => 'smartmag', // For retrieving meta values from core plugin. 'meta_prefix' => '_bunyad', // Legacy compat. 'theme_version' => BUNYAD_THEME_VERSION, // Widgets enabled. 'post_formats' => ['gallery', 'image', 'video', 'audio'], // Sphere Core plugin components 'sphere_components' => [ 'social-follow', 'breadcrumbs', 'auto-load-post', 'adblock-detect', 'elementor\layouts', 'elementor\dynamic-tags' ], 'customizer' => [ 'font_aliases' => true ], 'add_sidebar_class' => false, ])); {"id":171429,"date":"2024-07-05T08:05:17","date_gmt":"2024-07-05T08:05:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worthyhacks.com\/uk-general-election-2024-why-do-some-popular-parties-win-so-few-seats-elections-news\/"},"modified":"2024-07-05T08:05:22","modified_gmt":"2024-07-05T08:05:22","slug":"uk-general-election-2024-why-do-some-popular-parties-win-so-few-seats-elections-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worthyhacks.com\/uk-general-election-2024-why-do-some-popular-parties-win-so-few-seats-elections-news\/","title":{"rendered":"UK general election 2024: Why do some popular parties win so few seats? | Elections News"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The UK\u2019s common election has resulted in a landslide victory<\/a> for Keir Starmer\u2019s Labour Occasion, which has gained 411 seats of a complete of 650 seats (65 p.c) within the Home of Commons.<\/p>\n

Counting continues to be persevering with in a handful of seats, however whereas Labour has 64 p.c of the seats, it solely truly gained 34 p.c of the particular votes.<\/p>\n

Conversely, Reform UK, the far-right occasion campaigning on points akin to immigration, has obtained 14 p.c of the votes to this point, however solely 4 seats, or 0.6 p.c of the full. The Conservative Occasion has gained a bit extra of the vote \u2013 about 24 p.c \u2013 however has taken 119 seats (18 p.c of seats) \u2013 an enormous distinction.<\/p>\n

So why do some events with a lot of votes solely obtain a handful of seats?<\/p>\n

What number of seats have every occasion gained?<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Labour Occasion: <\/strong>35 p.c vote share, 411 seats<\/li>\n
  • Conservative Occasion: <\/strong>24 p.c vote share, 119 seats<\/li>\n
  • Liberal Democrats: <\/strong>12 p.c vote share, 71 seats<\/li>\n
  • Reform UK:<\/strong> 14 p.c vote share, 4 seats<\/li>\n
  • Inexperienced Occasion:<\/strong> 7 p.c vote share, 4 seats<\/li>\n
  • Scottish Nationwide Occasion (SNP): <\/strong>2 p.c vote share, 9 seats<\/li>\n
  • Sinn Fein:<\/strong> 0.7 p.c vote share, 7 seats<\/li>\n
  • Plaid Cymru: <\/strong>0.7\u00a0p.c vote share, 4 seats<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Why does this occur?<\/h2>\n

    This anomaly happens as a result of the UK makes use of the plurality voting system referred to as \u201cfirst-past-the-post\u201d, which works otherwise from the varied programs of proportional illustration utilized in many different international locations.<\/p>\n

    There are 650 constituencies throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Eire \u2013 the 4 international locations within the UK.<\/p>\n

    Voters in every constituency make one alternative from a listing of candidates and, after the votes are counted, the candidate with probably the most votes wins the seat within the Home of Commons.<\/p>\n

    If a celebration wins numerous seats by small margins, it will likely be mirrored by an imbalance between general votes and general seats gained. Theoretically, one occasion may win 51 p.c of the vote in each seat, whereas one other may win 49 p.c in each seat. The primary occasion would obtain 100% of the seats, nevertheless.<\/p>\n

    The occasion that reaches 326 seats \u2013 yet another than half of the full 650 \u2013 will kind a authorities with out the necessity for a coalition with different events, no matter how nicely different events carry out. The occasion with the second-highest variety of seats types the official opposition.<\/p>\n

    If no occasion wins 326 seats, the occasion with probably the most seats could comply with kind a coalition with one other occasion.<\/p>\n

    Does this mismatch between votes and seats occur continuously within the UK elections?<\/h2>\n
      \n
    • Within the 2017 common election, the Liberal Democrats gained 7.4 p.c of votes and solely 12 seats, 1.8 p.c of the full. In 2019, the occasion gained 11.5 p.c of votes however just one.7 p.c of seats.<\/li>\n
    • Within the 2015 common election, the Liberal Democrats gained 7.9 p.c of votes, however solely gained 1.2 p.c of seats, returning simply 4 MPs.<\/li>\n
    • In 2015, the UK Independence Occasion (UKIP) gained 12.6 p.c of the votes however just one seat, or 0.2 p.c.<\/li>\n
    • The Inexperienced Occasion polled 3.8 p.c of votes in 2015 however bought simply 0.2 p.c of the seats.<\/li>\n
    • In 1997, the Labour Occasion gained 43 p.c of the vote however gained 64 p.c of the seats.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      What do critics of the UK electoral system say?<\/h2>\n

      Whereas the first-past-the-post system may work effectively when solely two or three candidates compete for votes, it’s much less related in trendy occasions, observers say.<\/p>\n

      \u201cIn an more and more multiparty political atmosphere, with voters much less dedicated than ever to the 2 fundamental events, first-past-the-post creates vastly distorted outcomes,\u201d Steve Gilmore, a spokesperson from Make Votes Matter, which campaigns for the introduction of proportional illustration within the UK, instructed Al Jazeera.<\/p>\n

      \u201cA celebration\u2019s share of the seats in parliament bears little resemblance to the share of the vote they obtained. In different phrases, on Friday, parliament won’t symbolize how the nation voted.\u201d<\/p>\n

      Critics argue that the first-past-the-post system typically permits the election of MPs from events that didn’t get sufficient general votes, simply because the occasion was common in some constituencies.<\/p>\n

      For instance, in 1997, Labour gained with 43 p.c of the vote, which suggests 57 p.c of voters didn’t vote Labour.<\/p>\n

      Critics additionally blame the first-past-the-post system for low voter turnout since voters consider their single vote could have little impact on the consequence.<\/p>\n

      They argue the system additionally encourages tactical voting. This could imply voters not selecting their favorite candidate, however as a substitute selecting somebody extra common to make sure their least favorite candidate doesn’t win.<\/p>\n

      As of January 29, a tracker by the British public opinion and information monitoring firm, YouGov, confirmed that solely 26 p.c of individuals had been in favour of maintaining the first-past-the-post voting system.<\/p>\n

      Some 45 p.c of respondents believed the British voting system ought to be modified to an alternate voting system referred to as proportional illustration (PR).<\/p>\n