User:RodCrosby/QPR2: Difference between revisions
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==Possible anomalies==
==Possible additional features==
For all serious parties, maximising their national vote share is imperative under this system. But on occasion, for a variety of reasons, a party may not be able to field a full slate in every constituency, thereby seriously handicapping itself. In such cases, a party-only box could be permitted on the ballot in a candidate-less constituency. While not benefiting the party locally, it would still garner "votes" that would contribute to its national seat-total, helping to elect candidates elsewhere. Of course, the usual rules on lost deposits would apply to such "empty" boxes, to deter national no-hopers from running an "empty" box in every constituency.
See also the case of the Speaker below.
==The Speaker==
The case of the Speaker presents a possible difficulty. Representing a two-member seat, if the Speaker, under his former party colours, was one of a pair from the same party, that party could hardly stand down in his favour (as happens under FPTP), losing both an MP and crucial national votes, although standing would risk the Speaker's defeat. A similar self-interested view would undoubtedly be taken by the other parties. Under single-member FPTP in the UK, Opposition parties frequently stand against the Speaker, invariably to no effect. There are several possible solutions.
* adopt the Irish solution, where the ''Ceann Comhairle'' is automatically deemed re-elected as a member of the House, reducing the number of electorally-contested seats in his/her multi-member constituency by one. Under PR squared, this would result in a single-member contest in the Speaker's constituency.
* simply deem the Speaker an ''ex officio'' or co-opted Member of the House, without any need to continue to represent a constituency, thereby restoring the former constituency to normal electoral competition. The current Westminster convention seems a bit farcical, considering the last Speaker to be defeated in his constituency was Richard Onslow in 1710, and it's difficult to see how a Speaker can vigorously pursue or defend the interests of their constituents while remaining, as s/he must, completely neutral towards the government of the day.
* adopt an "empty" box mechanism on the ballot paper (see previous section) to permit one or more parties to still win crucial national votes, without risking the defeat of the Speaker.
==Simulations==
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