A Conservative MP complained in this morning's "Today" programme on BBC Radio 4 that a travel guide contradicted itself by stating that the "Thatcher regime" was unpopular and won general elections.  I don't want to take sides on whether it was a good or bad regime but it is true that it was unpopular and yet won general elections.  This is because of the voting system and I am disappointed, but not surprised, that the interviewer did not pick the point up.

Although Lady Thatcher won three elections between 1979 and 1987, the Conservative share of the votes was only about 43%; in other words nearly six out of ten voters consistently voted against her party, so her regime could hardly be described as “popular”.

The Blair regime, equally victorious under the voting system, has been even more unpopular sinking to 35% of the votes at the last election.