Why are British left-wingers so enthusiastic about proportional representation?

[Leftbehind]

Pretty much because we're now at US-levels of consensus RE neoliberal economics + reactionary social policies within the main parties; even if it inadvertently allowed UKIP* or BNP success it'd still be better than what's largely a democracy not worth participating in. Personally, I'd like to vote for a minority rump of leftists you see across Western Europe - which could join a coalition with Labour, or at least wield a positive influence in parliament - than be forever voting for right-wing parties or pointless also-runs and staying at home in disgust.

*You're a) quoting 2009 - a way-above average performance from the Right, largely due to the collapse of Labour and b) a Euro election, where UKIP gains votes for being the prominent anti-EU party in a Euro election.

[Leftbehind]

I don't really get the characterisation - I can't believe there's anyone more happy with FPTP on the left than Blairite/right-wing Labour members, who support the current direction, enjoy that through Labour they capture a far bigger vote than they would do, have basically ensured there's no avenue for the left and are usually middle-class liberals (in the economic sense) themselves (sure, historically Labour left's been opposed to PR, but I'd suggest that made sense until they became completely sidelined).

[Leftbehind]

Even still it's an uncomfortable generalisation, which I don't adhere to. I'm sure PR is a middle-class issue - with the social liberals on one side, and the market liberals on the other - but that's hardly surprising when politics itself is increasingly becoming a middle-class interest.