Future mayors of London will be elected under the traditional first past the post system according to the Conservative party manifesto which was published today.
The document, launched by PM Theresa May during a visit to Halifax, commits the party to retaining FPTP for Westminster elections and says it will be extended “to police and crime commissioner and mayoral elections.”
Both the London and new Metro Mayors outside the capital are currently elected using the Supplementary Vote system in which voters cast both a first and second preference.
If no candidate secures 50.01% of the first preference vote, the two highest polling candidates go through to a second round of voting and the second preference votes cast by those backing eliminated candidates are then redistributed.
Supporters of this system say it encourages parties and candidates to appeal beyond their own voter base more than is the case under FPTP, and so gives a larger number of Londoners a sense of connection with the Mayor.
Although the move away from SV will be unpopular in some quarters, in all of 5 London City Hall elections held to date the candidate coming top in the first round has gone on to win the mayoralty suggesting the change is unlikely to alter the outcome of many, if any, future elections.
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