[nilesfunnies] Fw: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/2005_british_general_election.htm

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/2005_british_general_election.htm

...an extract:

The result gave Labour a Parliamentary majority of 66. It also produced
some interesting statistics:

Labour's percentage of votes - at 36% (down by 5% from 2001) - is the
lowest any winning party has ever achieved.

More people voted for the Conservatives in England than for Labour -
but the Conservatives won 92 seats less than Labour within England (285
to 193). The Conservatives received 60,000 more votes than Labour in
England.

There was an overall turnout of 61% - up 2% from 2001. But this still
means that 1/3rd of those registered to vote did not do so. More people
opted not to vote (38.7%) than voted for Labour (36%).

Labour's share of the total possible electorate was 22%.

Labour got 55% of the seats but 36% of the votes cast

The Conservatives got 30% of the seats but 33% of the votes cast

The Liberal Democrats got 10% of the seats but 22% of the votes cast.

Both the Electoral Reform Society and 'Make Votes Count' expressed
their concern that democracy within the UK was being severely diluted
by the continued use of the 'first-past-the-post' system.