Labour MPs call on party in Westminster to back electoral reform after Senedd votes for change

Labour MPs from across the party have called on the leadership to back reform to England’s ‘broken voting system’, after the Labour administration in Cardiff passed legislation introducing STV for local government elections across Wales.

The Local Government and Elections (Wales) bill includes a range of reforms campaigners say could “revolutionise” democracy in Wales including extending the franchise to 16- and 17-year olds and allowing local authorities to scrap First Past the Post.

The call comes ahead of a key speech from Keir Starmer on the UK’s constitution on Monday – the annual Mackintosh lecture.

The Labour leader faces growing pressure from within his party to back electoral reform with over 100 constituency parties passing motions in favour of proportional representation in recent months. The party’s National Policy Forum recently published a report noting prominent calls for proportional representation from members and democracy groups.

Support among CLPs has rapidly increased since the September launch of ‘Labour for a New Democracy’ – a coalition of organisations and Labour MPs backing electoral reform.

More than 25,000 people have now signed the Electoral Reform Society petition calling for local proportional representation in England.

‘Unite’

Clive Lewis MP said: “Across the UK, Labour is turning away from the divisive winner-takes-all mentality that has warped our politics for too long. With Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland having rejected First Past the Post, England and Westminster must follow suit.

“People feel powerless, with millions silenced each election by an electoral system that leaves swathes of the country ignored. It’s time for that to stop.

“We can’t have political equality while some votes are worth far more than others. Labour must create a vision that brings Britain’s hyper-centralised political system into the 21st century. Voters and Labour members alike want to see fair representation and a democratic overhaul to drag our politics into the 21st century.

“This is an issue that can unite the party. Keir Starmer can and should lead on this, committing to proportional representation as part of a charter for democratic change that this country needs.”

Alex Sobel MP said: “It’s great to see this vital political reform coming from Labour in Wales. Winner-takes-all results throw millions of votes on the electoral scrapheap – which is why Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have moved to more proportional voting systems already.

“England now looks isolated, with the other nations rejecting one-party-takes-all politics. Keir Starmer has rightly pledged to consult members on reforming our 19th Century electoral system and has noted how millions of voters go ignored under the current broken system. Westminster-as-usual isn’t working, and there’s a growing consensus in favour of fairer elections. Labour can and must build a political system that ensures everyone is heard.”

Rachel Maskell MP was among four MPs to sign a piece in the Independent, arguing: “We must, as a Party, embrace radical constitutional and electoral reform…Deepening our democracy, expanding it, extending power, is the best way to challenge its erosion these past 40 years.”

‘Engage’

Sandy Martin, Chair, Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform said: “Three quarters of Labour party members want proportional representation, and the decisions taken in Wales show that this is a matter of principle, not political expediency. We believe that everyone’s voice should be heard, and we want to make their votes effective.

“Introducing votes at 16 will engage young people at a time when they are in a supportive environment and can discuss the issues with their peers. Giving councils the opportunity to use a more proportional electoral system will enable those councils to reflect the views and aspirations of their residents.

“We need to see these initiatives reflected in England and the Westminster Parliament not only local councils and the devolved administrations.”

Priority

Left-wing activists are also calling for Labour to back proportional representation across the UK.

A new Compass report calls for cross-party cooperation among anti-Tory parties: “A Labour-led government is eminently possible… a uniform swing of just 3.18% would be enough for the Tories to lose their majority of 80 in parliament. Crucially, for this to happen, all the progressive parties need to do well.

“For example, the Liberal Democrats came second in 78 Conservative seats in 2019. Of their target seats for 2024, a swing of less than 3% would see ten Tory seats switch. In only one seat are Labour and the Lib Dems in real competition.”

There were also calls for PR from members in the recent National Policy Forum consultation on democracy policy, while demands for electoral reform also topped a recent PACAC Parliamentary inquiry survey, with nearly 80% of respondents calling for it to be a priority for the government.

Recent YouGov polling has highlighted levels of discontent with the state of democracy in the UK.