The EU Is Unpopular Because We Don't Like The Voting System

According to Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski during a debate on the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill:

Daniel Kawczynski: My hon. Friend mentioned the elections to the European Parliament. If we are going to change any voting system, surely it should be those elections, in which only 30% of the electorate turn up to vote, because they are very unhappy with how we vote for MEPs. Conversely, in our elections the turnout is 70%. Most people are happy with the way they elect us, but not with how they elect their representatives to the European Parliament.

Mr Syms: I am sure that that is the case.

That's right, the turnout is very low because we don't like Proportional Representation; it couldn't be for any other reason could it?

Here's the turnout at EU elections since the first elections in 1979:

• 1979: 32.35%
  
• 1984: 32.57%
• 1989: 36.37%
• 1994: 36.43%
• 1999: 24%
• 2004: 38.52%
• 2009: 34.7%

And guess what system was in place before 1999? FPTP