The experience of proportional electoral systems in Scotland

One of the main arguments against reform of Westminster’s electoral reform is that it would result in minority government, and this would lead to instability and breakdown. Well, Scotland has had a minority administration since 2007 so what has gone on there?

There’s an article in this week’s Economist which suggests that the SNP government at Holyrood has been able to govern effectively despite not commanding a majority. In essence it means that government has been styled by negotiation and spin in a way that is different to how Westminster operates. As the article concludes: “experience shows, in Scotland and other places, that by building a constellation of alliances, minority government can be made to function. It is just hard work.”

The Scottish experience is probably a better example of what the impact of PR would be than the oft’ quoted case of Italy’s 50 plus post war governments. Scotland is part of the UK and therefore has a political culture that is a better guide to what might happen in the House of Commons with minority government than Italy.