The balance of power in Croydon

3.56.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 10th May 2010

Proportional Representation would see a connection between the number of seats taken up in a legislature and the percentage of votes cast for each party.

The outcome of Croydon's Council elections ignores the wishes of almost a quarter of the borough's voters.

Votes cast by 23% of the electorate have been made meaningless by the present system.

With no majority held by the Conservatives or Labour, in a Croydon Council elected by the fairer system of Proportional Representation, Liberal Democrats would hold the balance of power.

Proportional Representation would see a connection between the number of seats taken up in the legislature and the percentage of votes cast for each party.

Reforms to our out-of-date electoral system are needed to safeguard democracy in the 21st Century. The present first past the post system only works in two-party politics. We are now in a time when more voices need to be heard.

How Council Seats would be distributed under Proportional Representation: Con 28 | Lab 26 | Lib Dem 10 | Green 4 | Others 2

The distribution of Council Seats under the current first past the post system: Con 37 | Lab 33 | Lib Dem 0 | Green 0 | Others 0