The rapid changes in electoral systems and party systems in Britain since 1
997 pose fundamental problems of explanation both for electoral system anal
ysts and for students of British politics. We first describe the main types
of electoral system change introduced and show how the new systems have al
ready brought about important differences in party systems and patterns of
party government across the UK. Possible explanations of the changes includ
e: general trends across liberal democracies to re-appraise their historic
voting systems; the UK's historical and political distinctiveness in compar
ative terms; long-run processes specific to Britain triggering a lagged or
'catch-up' political and constitutional modernization; and short run ('why
now?') causal factors. In our view change is already irreversible. For the
foreseeable future either plurality rule and new electoral systems will co-
exist within a primary/secondary elections structure; or the new systems wi
ll over time erode the previously foundational position of plurality rule,
in tandem with a realignment of party politics UK-wide.