Henry is right to voice this concern, but I think a) there’s currently a problem in this regard and b) it’s solvable /1
1) the problem: the special connection has weakened. Because parties parachute people into seats. The PM has defended the fact that people with few if any connections to the constituency stand as candidate. So the connection is created by the election itself only.
2) It’s solvable. There are mixed systems. In which you do have directly elected MPs, but the composition of Parliament is still determined on a proportional basis, as eg in Germany.
As to party stitch-ups: I see the issue both ways. The defeat of a party leader in his/her constituency might be a grandiose story, but a) it’s rare - see safe seats and b) it’s also a bit unnatural and defeats the idea that a PM is elected. Why?
Because like it or not Tory voters now vote for Johnson. The party might have far better people, but those are not those who are voted for.
3) And as I am rightly reminded by @ScobbieJames and @PJM2010 : the UK itself has alternative systems
@ScobbieJames @PJM2010 Northern Ireland votes under a single transferable vote system ark.ac.uk/elections/gstv…
@ScobbieJames @PJM2010 And if you say NI is dysfunctional: well, Scotland votes under an additional member system which does remind me of the German one en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Additiona…
@ScobbieJames @PJM2010 And yes. I know this is all theory. But I am an academic, so...
@ScobbieJames @PJM2010 Here’s the Prime Minister arguing against the need of a close relationship with the constituency (apparently he’s wrong on Tony Blair)
