Electoral reform reformed: the Arbuthnott Commission and Scottish Parliament elections

Since the opening of Scotland's devolved Parliament in 1999, the country has been embarked on a major constitutional experiment. Part of the experiment involved one of the most substantial exercises in electoral reform ever carried out in the UK, the adoption of AMS voting. However, after two AMS elections, concerns over the new system led to the establishment of the Arbuthnott Commission, charged with reviewing Scotland's electoral system. The commission's 2006 report makes suggestions, some straightforward and others more radical, for further reform. These are critically reviewed in this paper.