In their guarded defence of the Westminster electoral system (Inside Westminster and Bursting the Bubble, 12 July), Andrew Marr and Rachel Cunliffe remind us of Isaiah Berlin’s argument regarding the litmus test of democracy, or the capacity of ordinary citizens to “kick the rascals out” and effect change in government. Berlin also argued that, in the interests of national catharsis, it was vital that particular “rascals” be punished and banished: a restatement, perhaps, of the ostraka principle used in ancient Athens.
In this respect it is worth remembering that Britain’s proportional representation systems have mostly allowed party grandees a top ranking on “closed” party lists, effectively guaranteeing their re-election. Under the PR system used for our pre-Brexit European Parliament elections – and recently introduced for the Welsh Senedd – high-profile Tory casualties such as Liz Truss and Jacob Rees-Mogg would have probably cheated the hangman.
Content from our partners
