In the 2014 election, a party calling themselves "UKIP" won 13% of the vote (but only a single seat). UKIP were right wing populist, attracting people who would otherwise have little choice but to vote for the Tories, and after this election and a previous strong showing in the European Parliament elections, the Tories felt threatened. In FPTP, UKIP cannibalising Tory votes could be a big problem, constituencies that would normally split 50% Tory 45% Labour suddenly becoming 10% UKIP 40% Tory 45% Labour could lead to a big swing in seats.
Tory leader David Cameron's solution to this was to undercut UKIP support by offering a referendum on leaving the EU, their core policy. Eurosceptic voters would be appeased by the offer, and return to the mainstream Conservative fold, but the anticipated Remain victory would confirm Cameron's business as usual leadership.
This did not happen.
The moral here is that far from stopping a dominant party agreeing to the demands of a fringe party, FPTP itself led directly to a fringe party being able to pressure a dominant party into lurching towards an extreme position. It is a stupid system.
Tory leader David Cameron's solution to this was to undercut UKIP support by offering a referendum on leaving the EU, their core policy. Eurosceptic voters would be appeased by the offer, and return to the mainstream Conservative fold, but the anticipated Remain victory would confirm Cameron's business as usual leadership.
This did not happen.
The moral here is that far from stopping a dominant party agreeing to the demands of a fringe party, FPTP itself led directly to a fringe party being able to pressure a dominant party into lurching towards an extreme position. It is a stupid system.