Support for PR at an all-time high
This year’s British Social Attitudes Survey report, published today, has found that support for electoral reform has risen to a new, record high.
60% of voters now want to change the voting system, with just 36% in favour of the status quo. This continues a trend of soaring demand for fair votes for more than a decade. And for the first time, a majority of supporters of all political parties are now in favour of voting reform.
Responding to the news, Labour MP Alex Sobel - who Chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Elections - said:
“These figures show that the British public has had enough of First Past the Post. There is now unprecedented support for a fairer voting system right across the political spectrum – and there are more MPs in Parliament who support this change than ever before. The Government should set up a National Commission for Electoral Reform to examine the options and start building consensus on a way forward.”
🚀 Public support for electoral reform is the highest it's been since records began
— LCER (@Labour4PR) June 25, 2025
💥 60% now want to change to a fair, proportional voting system... including a majority of supporters of every party
🌹 Chair of @FairElectionsUK, Labour MP @alexsobel, welcomes the news
🧵 1/3 pic.twitter.com/PFOzRed4FW
The Government says it wants to restore trust in politics and has recognised that First Past the Post is a cause of this distrust. Importantly, today’s results confirm that those with the lowest levels of trust and confidence in government are also the most likely to support electoral reform. It’s time the Government recognised this and acted, starting by launching a National Commission for Electoral Reform.
💥 At 60%, support for electoral reform is the highest it's ever been
— APPG for Fair Elections (@FairElectionsUK) June 25, 2025
📊 A majority of supporters of each of the parties - including @Conservatives - support change
⚠️ Those who are most mistrustful of government are more likely to support voting reform@NatCen's Alex Scholes pic.twitter.com/KAweKkNMli
From Labour members, to affiliated trade unions, to local parties, to Members of Parliament - the overwhelming consensus across the Labour movement is firmly in favour of a fair, democratic voting system in which every vote counts.
Bringing in a proportional system is a vital step towards restoring trust in politics - and an increasingly urgent one given the volatility and fragmentation of British politics.
But speaking at this morning’s report launch, Professor John Curtice gave the Labour leadership an additional reason to get to grips with electoral reform. He cautioned that First Past the Post now stands to benefit Reform UK in a big way, underlining Nigel Farage’s warning that the current voting system has become his friend.
⚠️ "If we had a general election tomorrow, Nigel Farage would become Prime Minister with 377 seats on 30% of the vote"
— LCER (@Labour4PR) June 25, 2025
🎓 Professor John Curtice on how First Past the Post has gone from sandbag to springboard for Reform UK@NatCen #BSA2025 #BritishSocialAttitudes pic.twitter.com/yQjhXjyQXV
Labour must get on the front foot when it comes to fixing our broken democracy. The Government is set to bring forward proposals for an Elections Bill soon.
Ministers should take this opportunity to grasp the nettle and launch a National Commission for Electoral Reform to engage the public, consult widely, and recommend a fair and representative way forward for Britain.
