The first past the post electoral system is flawed. Yet before it isscrapped we must be sure that there is a better alternative. Change forchange sake, promoted by those with the most to gain, is not the recipe forgood decision making. No system will ever be perfect, but first past thepost has serviced this country well and provided stable government and givenus strong local representation over many years.One of the great strengths of our democracy is the constituency link.Despite what the press would have us belief, when we went to the polls lastweek, we were not voting for the Prime Minister, we were voting instead forour local MP. This may seem a rather esoteric point, but it is veryimportant. We are voting for an individual, not a party list as could be thecase under certain types of PR. Many people vote for their local candidate,despite their party loyalties, because they know the person will do a goodjob for the constituency.Most importantly the desire for political reform should not be confused withelectoral reform. The events of the last parliament have led many people totake a closer look at reforming our political system. Yet we must be carefulnot to through the baby out with the bath water. Just because we desirechange over expenses, accountability and process in Westminster, does notnecessarily mean that the system of electing MPs needs to change.