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Politics has changed but our political system has not changed with it.



Across Europe we are seeing the same pattern: the fragmentation of political parties as voters become more compartmentalised.



In Spain they have gone from two main parties (the PP and PSOE) to four: PP, PSOE, Citizens and Podemos.



And that is before you consider Vox and the nationalist parties.



It is a similar story in Germany where the far-right Alternative for Germany and the Greens are now polling similar numbers to the Social Democrats and in Sweden, which still does not have a government, Denmark and the Netherlands.



This diversification is also taking place in the UK but our first-past-the-post system fails to reflect the changing tides of opinion.



(Image: Getty Images)



In this respect, the result of the 2017 UK general election was an aberration in that the two main parties dominated the share of the vote despite the fracturing of views.



Which prompts the question of whether our electoral system or proportional representation are better to suited to an age in flux.



You could argue that first past the post prevents parties with extreme views from getting a foothold.



Yet the downside is that if people feel their vote is worthless they will become further disillusioned with mainstream politics and seek other ways of expressing their opinions.



PR requires messy compromises, frequently allows smaller parties to hold the whip hand and can result in political stasis but it at least offers a voice to those of different views.



Traditional allegiances have withered in the age of uncertainty and the disruption caused by social media meaning the next few decades will most likely be characterised by the splintering of the main parties.



The realignment over Brexit is an expression of this.



Our politics is changing but the mechanisms we use to conduct politics are looking increasingly rusty and antiquated.

(Image: PA)

On the subject of broken politics, Parliament hardly covered itself in glory yesterday with the row over what Jeremy Corbyn may or may not have said .



If the Tories want to get angry about something perhaps they could look at the state of homelessness in Britain.



This week Gyula Remef became the second person to die this year while sleeping rough at Westminster tube station.



And if the Tories are really worried about women’s rights perhaps they can explain why the Domestic Abuse bill has been delayed yet again.

This is the last newsletter of 2018.



We’ll be back at the beginning of January.



Thank you for reading and for sending your comments.



I try to answer as many emails as I can but special thanks to regular emailers Mel (who deplores my views on Brexit), David (for whom I will never be left wing enough), Peter in Norfolk, Wilbert, Sherry (for correcting my grammar) and dozens of others too numerous to mention.



We don’t always agree but you are a daily reminder it is possible to have political dialogue without acrimony and abuse.



Have a great Christmas and New Year.



Today's agenda:



9.30am - Liam Fox takes International Trade questions.



10am - Women and Equalities question.



10.30am - Andrea Leadsom gives the regular update on Commons business.



2pm approx - Theresa May press conference with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki



6pm approx - House of Commons breaks for Christma



What I am reading:



Paul Mason on how 2018 was the year that Conservatism collapsed