However, because the elections are being fought under a new system of proportional representation, the overall number of Tory seats will rise, which should help Mr Hague put a positive gloss on the results.

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But now, are there enough to adequately handle the number of individuals who need representation?

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The Scottish coalition's harmony threatened to break down on June 27th when an independent commission set up by the administration to look at local-council reform recommended reducing the number of councillors and electing them by proportional representation, instead of by first-past-the-post.

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They did so by filling a fifth of parliament's seats through proportional representation and by including other rules to shrink the number of parties.

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Journalists, smelling a sensational headline, promoted that number, despite that fact that it is not really the most accurate representation of the economics of the underlying business.

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The government wants to make the Lords a mostly elected chamber of Parliament, with the number of members cut to about 465 and the first elections taking place by proportional representation in 2015.

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