Quickie: electoral reform and Conservatives vs conservatives.

In 1974, the PC Party took 35% of the vote.

In 1979, this jumped to 36%

In 1980, this fell to 32%

1984 saw a spike to 50%

After this, we saw the rise of the Reform Party. As such, for the next few elections, I am going to compare the combined vote total.

In 1988 the two parties took 45% of the vote, combined. Down 5% from the 1984 PC numbers.

1993, when the Liberals won government, saw this drop to a combined 35%

1997 saw this rise to 38%

2000 saw this hold at 38%

Meanwhile the two parties merged

2004 saw the number dip to 30%, it's lowest share we've yet looked at.

2006 saw it bump to 36%, more traditional levels, but below the average from 1988-2002

2008 saw this rise to 38%

2011 saw a strong showing of 40%

and finally, in 2015, we saw a dip down to 32%

My point?

If you adopt an electoral system that eliminates splitting the vote, things can be very good for small-c conservative parties. Two parties can, and I argue would, likely form a government. 

Electoral reform is not bad for conservatives.

It's bad for the Conservative Party.

And I don't reforms being bad for any particular party a reason to avoid it.