ABSTRACT
In 1999 elections to the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly and the European Parliament were conducted under variants of Proportional Representation. This article examines what lessons can be learnt from this experience for the debate about electoral reform for the House of Commons. It suggests that for the most part the suppositions of the Jenkins Report are upheld. The Jenkins system is still likely to allow a majority government to be formed on a minority of the vote, will still allow voters to express support for candidates irrespective of party, and is likely to have little influence on women’s representation. At the same time it should redress some of the geographical imbalances in parliamentary representation and make it easier for voters to vote sincerely rather than tactically.
