Sir Desmond Swayne

Sir Desmond Swayne

Conservative — New Forest West

Speaking in the House of Commons on 30 January 2025

Debate

Proportional Representation: General Elections

Contribution

May I put it to the hon. Gentleman that the opposite is the case? Our system requires coalitions to be formed. Political parties are broad coalitions in order to overcome that disadvantage and get over the electoral hurdle. In systems that are proportional, parties can secure electoral representation and be much more choosy about their ideological base, in the expectation that they will still get sufficient parliamentary representation. As a consequence, parties make their coalitions after an election, stitched up around a programme that nobody voted for.

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