PR weakens the link between an elected MP and his or her constituency

Under the current first-past-the-post system, one MP per constituency is elected. This system fosters a strong connection between the MP and their constituency. In addition to a London home, an MP will also have a constituency home and a constituency office, which means that local issues are an important part of an MP's day to day life. Proportional Representation weakens the link between an MP and their constituency. Some have argued that under Proportional Representation, constituencies would have to be reconfigured in order to allow a fair allocation of votes, and as such, smaller, local issues may be overlooked.^[1] Currently, constituencies are vital for an MP's day to day work, according to a study by the Hansard Society, nearly a year after election MP's are still spending more than half their time on constituency work. This shows that constituency work is very important to MP's not just at election time in order to garner votes. Constituency work can see MP's advocating in Parliament on behalf of issues that are important specifically to their constituency. Changing this would mean a significant shift in the UK's political landscape. For a country used to writing to their local MP about potholes in their local road, this would be an unwelcome change, and would signify a shift away from more local politics.^[2] The relationship between a voter and their MP is the long-standing historical way in which the British have understood and enacted their constitution. Writers at the LSE have lauded this link, arguing that it helps the British to understand their parliament and government.^[3] Doing away with this strong bond between voter, MP and constituency, the British public are left more uncertain regarding their political system.