How to put some proportion back into representation.

1. Having a small number of broad-based political parties is a beneficial feature of the British political system.

2. The election for the House of Commons also chooses the Government and it is beneficial (in terms of effectiveness and accountability) that it usually provides the Government party with a workable majority.

3. The current first-past-the-post election for the House of Commons should be retained but supplemented with regional additional member lists that go some way to achieve a more proportional representation of smaller parties (where they achieve certain thresholds). [Click here for details of the additional member proposal.]

4. To help it towards a minimum workable majority, a maximum of 40 additional member seats would also be available for the first placed party. This would not guarantee a majority, but a hung parliament would only occur in exceptional circumstances and would reflect the balance of public opinion.

5. Help towards the target workable majority would depend upon the share of vote achieved (40% is a likely threshold), whether the party had won a simple majority of seats (as well as votes) and what gap there was (in share of votes) to the second placed party. [Click here for details of the additional member proposal.]

6. More proportional systems of voting could be used for other elections but should be carefully designed to be transparent and fair.

World2Rights: Tough on apathy and tough on the causes of apathy.

1. In a democracy, voting is a responsibility as well as a right. So it will be mandatory. Missing 2 consecutive elections will result in a large fine (a reverse Poll Tax) which will be used to reduce local taxation for everybody else (via a national fund). Voters will be free, of course, to indicate an abstention on their ballot papers.  Voter registration will also be mandatory.

2. As far as possible, the number of different election dates will be minimised and opportunities to vote will be extended. Additional polling stations will be established in superstores. In the 7 days before polling day, returning officers will tour constituencies in mobile polling stations in order to give people an opportunity to vote in advance.

State funding of political parties.

1. Political parties will receive state funding in proportion to the share of the vote that they achieve (above certain thresholds). There will be limits on spending for all parties and the major parties will not be allowed to supplement their state funding with donations. Trade unions and corporations will be encouraged to redirect their political donations into training for members and employees.

State funding is a small price to pay to preserve the integrity of our democracy.