Here are some positive aspects of the 2019 election results for the Lib Dems and some reflections on our unfair voting system.
- The Liberal Democrat share of the vote nationally went up by 4.2%, the Conservative share by way of contrast went up by only 1.2%.
- We had the largest percentage vote share increase in 266 seats.
- We gained 1.2 million votes and our share of the vote increased in every region of the UK.
Despite this, we now have one seat less than in 2017. Under a proportional representation system, we would now have 84 MPs. This is one of the greatest barriers that needs to be overcome. To elect 1 MP under our 'First Past The Post' system requires the following number of votes, on average:
Conservatives: 38,265 Labour: 50,837 Lib Dems: 336,038.
Our electoral system is no longer fit for purpose.
Mark Twitchett is Redbridge Lib Dems Membership secretary