The Politics of Electoral Reform in the United Kingdom - A Window of Opportunity?

Abstract: The first-past-the-post electoral system employed in British general elections has remained virtually unchanged for over a century. It is therefore of historical relevance that a referendum on the Alternative Vote is planned for May 2011. This report sets out to explain why the Liberal Democrats were more successful in pushing for electoral reform after the UK general election 2010 than the Liberal Party was after the general election of February 1974, despite similar circumstances. To answer this question, a theory consuming method is employed. One of the theoretical approaches consulted is the power maximizing approach. According to this perspective, changes to electoral systems occur as a consequence of rational choices by political parties. The second is the multiple streams approach which describes agenda setting as an anarchical process in which streams of problems, policies and politics move an item onto the agenda. The conclusion of this report is that a combination of these two approaches offers a satisfactory explanation. Due to increased power incentives, the parties managed to arrive at a compromise in 2010 but not in 1974. Also, because of increased problem recognition, better evaluated policy alternatives and more beneficial political circumstances there were more favourable conditions for policy change in 2010.