Calls grow for Labour to take the next step on electoral reform
Calls for the Government to move forward on electoral reform have continued to grow, with interventions from Labour MPs and prominent voices across the movement.
Writing in The Guardian, columnist Polly Toynbee argued that Andy Burnham should build on his longstanding support for proportional representation by establishing a National Commission on Electoral Reform.
Toynbee highlighted Burnham’s speech at Labour Conference, where he backed Labour for a New Democracy’s campaign for a National Commission, as well as growing support for reform among Labour MPs and members. She argued that the Commission would allow the Government to take ownership of the growing momentum for change.
Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock also backed the proposal in The Observer, arguing that First Past the Post is no longer fit for Britain’s increasingly multi-party politics.
Kinnock described advancing democracy as “a Labour cause” and called for a National Commission as the practical next step towards reform, writing: “A national commission on electoral reform now would put that enlightened purpose into practice.”
Labour MP Rachel Blake also made the case for action in The House, arguing that Britain’s increasingly multi-party politics means electoral reform is becoming unavoidable.
Blake is among the Labour MPs backing Alex Sobel’s call for a National Commission. She argued that an independent process could examine the options for proportional representation while considering how best to retain constituency representation and public accountability.
She called for the Commission to be established within the Prime Minister’s first 100 days.
“More PR would stabilise British democracy. Andy Burnham has made clear that he is a dedicated pragmatic reformer. A National Commission on Electoral Reform now would put that enlightened purpose into practice” Neil Kinnock in the @observeruk.bsky.social 🌹 #Labour4PR
— Labour4PR 🌹🗳️ (@labour4pr.bsky.social) 7:39 AM · Aug 30, 2026
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