Many MPs who are opposed to PR claim that it would inevitably damage the link between them and their constituents, whose interests they represent. In reality, there are a number of systems of PR that keep or even improve this link. The Additional Member System (AMS) maintains the present principle of one-MP-to-one-constituency, while using top-up lists to ensure that the share of seats a party wins matches the share of the vote the people give them. Systems like the Single Transferable Vote (STV) use multi-member constituencies - meaning that (for example) five MPs are elected to represent a given area. One advantage of this is that many more people than at present have a local representative who is sympathetic to their views who they can approach with their concerns. For more information see our voting systems page.
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