I don't know if this is a bit off topic or could even be a thread in its own right, but as Gordon Brown has spoken about reforming the electoral system for MPs this raises some concerns.

I hope that parliament will never be determined by a vote carve-up as in the GLA and Euro-elections.

In first past the post constituents vote for an individual to represent them. In turn that individual may (most likely) belong to a political party, and, again, most likely the voter makes their choice on the basis of the party the individual belongs to.

The European PR method has some set-backs:

If the number of MPs was 500, then a repugnant party could gain a seat with as little as .2% of the vote, so if they got 2 seats, it means that 99.4% of those who voted would not touch them with a bargepole.

How would MPs be allocated to constituencies? It would not be viable for a party with one elected candidate to hold surgeries in all 500 constituences.

Thirdly, the personaility of the MP may cross party boudaries. Someone may for example vote lib-dem on the basis of the MPs track record in representing his or her constituents rather than the support for his/her party.

Personally I favour the transferrable vote method where the person elected has the support of the majority of those who voted in any given constituency.