Labour does not like losing central control. So, when forced to accept a proportional voting system, they opt for one that puts most power in the hands of their barons. In Scotland, as part of the devolution settlement, they insisted on a top-up party list rather than the Liberal Democrat's preferred STV, which gives people the chance to vote for the person of their choice, not just the party. Thanks to Andy Myles (if I recall correctly) and his rigorous mathematics, the resulting system in Scotland was as proportionate as it could practically be. (No such luck when the party list system was transplanted to Wales, where the shortfall in the top-up numbers favours the largest party, which since the inauguration of the Assembly has been Labour.)
In 1999, when the EU decreed that all member nations elect their MEPs via a proportional system, but left it up to individual governments to choose the method, it fell to Labour's Home Secretary Jack Straw to make the decision. Not only did he select party lists for Britain, but also a method of apportioning seats which favours the big parties. As wikipedia says:
“As Home Secretary, Straw was also involved in changing the electoral system for the European Parliament elections from plurality to proportional representation. In doing so, he advocated the use of the d’Hondt formula as being the one that produces the most proportional outcomes. The d’Hondt formula, however, is less proportional than the Sainte-Laguë formula which was proposed by the Liberal Democrats. Straw later apologised to the House of Commons for his misleading comments, but the d’Hondt formula stayed in place. “
Northern Ireland benefits from real STV. More details about the electoral systems here.
Why does this anorak-y stuff matter? Well, we will in May be putting into office, for however short a time, MEPs to represent this country. There is a danger that there will be a large, if not neo-fascist, certainly a wrecking vote. The opposition to this is split between several parties. In total, the pro-EU vote may outweigh UKIP/Brexit, but if it is dissipated between other than the established consistent pro-EU party, the wreckers and the spongers will win. The so-called Independent Group, now re-branded as Change UK is explicitly using this situation to inflict damage on parties who would stand in the way of their personal political ambitions.
The logic is clear: if you want to elect MEPs who will make the most for you out of the EU while we are still there, you must vote Liberal Democrat.
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