THE MINORITY VOTE.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."I
SIR,—The letter of Mr. Tom Gibson in your issue of the 22nd inst. raises the whole question of the representation arising from three-cornered contests—a matter of growing importance owing to the increasing number of such contests. At the last General Election there was a considerable number of three- cornered contests. The largest number of such contests coming under a uniform classification were contests between Coalition Conservatives and non-Coalition Liberals and non-Coalition Labour. There were as many as ninety such contests. In sixty- two of these contests the candidate elected was returned by an absolute majority of the votes cast in his constituency. The results were as follows:— Votes Members per member returned. returned.
Coalition Conservative... 702,611 59 11,904 Non-Coalition Liberal ... 207,131 ... 2 ... 103,565 Non-Coalition Labour ... 286,525 ... 1 ... 286,525 The condition desiderated by Mr. Tom Gibson is here fulfilled. The totality of the results is a, gross travesty of electoral justice. What is needed is to establish the principle of one vote one value; and this can be achieved only by adopting the single transferable vote applied to multiple-member constitu- encies—i.e., by Proportional Renresentation.—I am, Sir, &c., Votes cast.
12 Alexandra Park Road, N. 10. Wet. COATES.
Previous page
