Except that the Tories didn't want to leave the EU. They said they'd let the people choose, and they thought the people would choose remain, thus silencing the right wing Tories that did want to leave. It's not FPTP that's seen this move to the right, it was a referendum.And a Tory party intent on exiting the EU (and, as a result, the Thatcher-inspired single market) is another step in the same direction.
Yes, you get a lot more decisions made with a majority government than under PR.The Corbynistas decry Blair as a pseudo-Tory but the shift from the Thatcher/Major era to New Labour was a much more abrupt change of direction than you would ever expect to see in a parliament elected under PR.
Agreed. That will be the odd one out in our recent history.Corbyn, if he ever gets over the line, will go much further still.
I don't think 'strong and stable' is the best question, as FPTP is more likely to provide that, as you generally get a government with a majority, who can carry out their manifesto. It's unusual that we don't have a majority government, and obviously the Brexit issue has divided everyone. I agree that Germany's system usually leads to less lurching from left to right (not that I think we've seen much ourselves), and that could be better for the country. Although one issue with it is the constant concessions that would be made to the SNP etc.Germany is the obvious comparison, in terms of population, size of economy etc. Sure, it sometimes takes them weeks to form a government after an election, but when they do, it represents a majority of the vote. Policies shift either side of the middle from time-to-time, but not very far from it. Looking at the current situation, which system would you say is more likely to deliver "strong and stable" government?