Mat Bowles

If everyone genuinely votes their first preference then the system works to some extent, but if sufficiently many people deliberately conceal their first preference in an attempt to finesse the distribution of later seats then results become unpredictable.

Well, sort of, yes.

But how do you define 'preference' when you're only allowed one choice out of many? The current party system is a result of FPTP, the parties all exist in order to compete for power at Westminster, all other elections are secondary (which is partially why you get local issue parties like Kidderminster Health Concern and similar).

I'm a member of the Lib Dems because I want to change the westminster system—when it comes from Europe, I'm torn between them and Libertarse, except a) I don't trust Ganley or his money and b) they're not going to get anywhere.

My first preference is for all the MEPs to be Lib Dems. That isn't going to happen. My next preference is not to have a BNP MEP taking my money and speaking 'on my behalf'. Voting against a BNP candidate is as valid a reason to chose my first preference, I don't think I'm 'concealing' it, I'd rather no Lib Dems and no BNP than some Lib Dems and a BNP, but D'Hondt means that Green votes are potentially wasted if they don't get in, and excess Lib Dem votes are wasted if they don't get a 2nd MEP.

A preferential system solves that immediately.