It is certainly unfortunate that the Brits chose to stay with the first past the post voting system rather than go to an optional preferential voting system.

One of the problems was that this was touted to be Australia’s system…. and to the Brits Australia’s democracy and quality of politics and life in general are supposed to look pretty good, so the voting system was supposed to be seen in a very positive manner.

But, along with a lot of other misinformation, obfuscation and lack of trust that pollies could ever be trying to do anything that is good for the people rather than good for themselves, this is just not the case!

Australia uses the compulsory preferential voting system at the Federal level, which is an entirely different and very much worse beast than OPV.

Indeed, CPV is much worse than FPTP.

In fact any system such as CPV which can compel voters to place their preferences where they don’t freely wish to place them, and hence risk having their vote count for a candidate/party that they did not wish to vote for, is just completely corrupt!

This sits in absolutely stark contrast to OPV, which is indeed the PROPER voting system for a true democracy!

So the Brits didn’t understand what they were voting for or against. No wonder they voted it down.

As simple as it is to understand, so few people in Australia comprehend the difference, or really give a hoot.

Oh well, I guess both us Aussies and them Brits get the quality of governance they deserve!

Surely a real democracy use proportional representation 15% of the votes means 15% of the seats in parliament. At least we'd some diverse opinion in parliament.