Who governs Britain? That is the question being put to the voters on May 6. But two other questions lurk uneasily in the background. The first is: how is Britain to be governed? The second is: will there remain a Britain to be governed, or will the election give a further push to the forces of Scottish separatism? The general election puts into the melting pot not only the first- past-the-post electoral system, with its natural accompanying single-party majority government, but also the unity of the United Kingdom itself.
Until recently, the Liberal Democrats were the only leading party proposing a change in the electoral system, and their advocacy could easily be dismissed as special pleading. Labour, however, now promises a referendum in October 2011 on the alternative vote. This is a landmark event marking the first occasion since the war that a governing party has specifically proposed electoral reform.
The Conservatives, although severely disadvantaged by first past the post, renew their commitment to it in their manifesto.
Click on link to read this excellent article by Prof. Bogador
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