Voting reform call to engage electors is not supported

»»A CALL for change to the “antiquated” first-past-the-post voting system has not been supported in Torridge.

Green councillor Huw Thomas (Green, Bideford East) asked fellow Torridge councillors to support a motion requesting that the Government brings forward legislation for a proportional representation voting system at local elections.

But the motion was defeated by 14 votes to 12 with two abstentions.

Proportional representation (PR) works on the concept that the distribution of seats won corresponds with the number of the total votes cast for each party, a system used in many democracies.

The first-past-the-post voting system works by voters casting a vote for a single candidate and the one with the most votes wins, even if they have a minority of total votes cast.

Cllr Thomas said variations of the PR system had already been used or approved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

He said more people voted after the introduction of PR in Scotland; 45% participating in the last election in 2022, compared with 33% in the 2023 local elections in Torridge.

Cllr Thomas continued: “When I was elected for the Bideford East ward it was a turnout of 26.2%, which I find quite embarrassing really.”

The votes for three Conservative candidates combined standing in the

Bideford East election outweighed the votes he received as the Green candidate, he told the full council.

“If we had a PR system, it would probably be a Conservative standing here, not a Green. It’s not all about smaller parties getting a greater chance of representation.

“I got 387 votes, less than 10% of the electorate voted for me, yet I’m here representing them. Is that a fair system?

“I think it needs improvement. What we currently have is antiquated and a form of proportional representation will give voters more of a say.

“It might help to get them invested in local elections and more interested in local democracy.”