As Ynbiniar says, we have a local MP who is your contact in parliament, that's a nice thing. It's difficult to see how you can have a more representative system and still have constituencies like we do, I'm sure it's possible though.
I just stumbled across this youtube video, "A guide to the UK elections 2010 for Americans" which might be of some interest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB4GqvzM6cM
Election Time
It's quite simple, under the system of the single transferable vote that the Lib Dems propose.
Constituencies are increased in size, and decreased in number, to get, say, 125 constituencies, each returning 4 or 5 MPs. Rather than checking one box on your ballot paper, you put down an order of preference.
The MPs are still local to a constituency, you just get more than one. This has some other nice side effects: you're supposed to be able to approach your local MP with issues, but half the time your local MP isn't someone for whom you voted/would vote. Under this system of PR you have a choice as to which one you see.
Constituencies are increased in size, and decreased in number, to get, say, 125 constituencies, each returning 4 or 5 MPs. Rather than checking one box on your ballot paper, you put down an order of preference.
The MPs are still local to a constituency, you just get more than one. This has some other nice side effects: you're supposed to be able to approach your local MP with issues, but half the time your local MP isn't someone for whom you voted/would vote. Under this system of PR you have a choice as to which one you see.
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