Proportional Representation

I was shocked by a letter in the Bracknell News of 12 June. This was from the Liberal Party which seems to be a spent force locally. At the last General Election they lost the seats of Guildford and Newbury to the Conservatives. They have no seats on Bracknell Council and they had major losses in last month's elections in Wokingham. Their letter describes the procedure of electing our members for the European Parliament as "anti-democratic".

In fact I believe it is the very opposite. It is the only voting process for Bracknell or Wokingham electors that uses proportional representation. Proportional representation allows for minorities to have a voice that they cannot get in the first past the post system.


All the Borough Councillors were Conservatives when I came to live in Bracknell in 1982. This is almost the position today except there is an opposition of three Labour members to the
 39 Conservatives. It is obviously the wish of the electors to have a Conservative council. So be it, but with proportional representation the opposition would be larger and allow for better review of Council decisions and thus better governance.

The Green Party strongly supports proportional representation for European Elections and there is merit in considering its use for other elections too. The South East of England returns 10 MEPs. Last time the Green Party received some 10% of the vote and thus one member. The Green Party MEP for the South East is Dr Caroline Lucas. She has very many major achievements to her credit. This is an example of what can be achieved by an electoral system of proportional representation.

David Young
The Green Party General Election candidate for Bracknell.