This week the people of Warrington went to the polls for the third all out Council Election since 2016.

And so the people have spoken and most people want a Labour run council. Or do they?

Like with other towns and cities up and down the country, the First Past The Post Voting System has thrown up more than a few anomalies.

The Conservatives were relegated to just one councillor, despite polling a quarter of the votes cast, and polling the second highest vote share after Labour.

The Liberal Democrats finished above the Tories despite polling fewer votes to become the official opposition. The same thing happened back in 2016.

Of course, some Lib Dems will be quick to point out that unlike the Conservatives, they were not fielding anything like the number of candidates compared to the Conservatives.

But here lies a further problem caused by the uncompetitiveness of First Past The Post elections, when it is often known in some places you just have to wear the right colour of rosette to win.

The Lib Dems did not field candidates in half of the town’s 22 wards.

Only five wards saw a Green Party candidate, the same for Reform UK, and for where independent candidates were standing.

As for Labour, no one is saying they did not win, and regardless of the electoral system, Cllr Mundry would always likely emerge as the leader of the council.

But for Labour to have 72 per cent of the seats, on just 47 per cent of the votes cast, has the will of the people been properly observed? I think not.

The implementation of Proportional Representation for General Elections is very important.

This is also the case for local government.

ANDY WATSON Warrington