Bye elections, hello NPF
With the by elections over - and the Parliamentary Labour Party a little bigger - Labour activists in three corners of the country will be taking a well deserved break. Congratulations to Labour’s newest MP and everyone who campaigned in all three seats.
But there’s no rest for members of Labour’s National Policy Forum, who are in Nottingham this weekend for a marathon meeting that will agree a draft policy wording on electoral reform - and every other issue.
As things get underway, check out this bumper pack of interventions from NPF reps and progressive thinkers about why Labour should back PR…
New research by Labour Together finds Labour's key target voters think PR would make a more positive impact than any other democratic reform.
🌹 New research from @LabourTogether reveals:
— LCER (@Labour4PR) July 21, 2023
💥 Electoral reform would make the most positive impact of any democratic reform - say Labour's key target voters.
📊 Both 'Workington Man' and 'Stevenage Woman' see PR as *more* positive than devolution or Lords reform.
(1/5) 🧵 pic.twitter.com/TEogZXDlRf
Rob Ford - Politics Professor of the University of Manchester - explains in the New Statesman why PR leads to more Labour governments and progressive outcomes that First Past the Post.
PR would "level an electoral playing field that is skewed to the right" - writes @robfordmancs in @NewStatesman
— LCER (@Labour4PR) July 22, 2023
More importantly, it improves how politics operates: "a new government and new way of governing" as @Keir_Starmer has called for.
(1/4) 🧵https://t.co/DnWEqOWpUn pic.twitter.com/TKWfK1qtWh
Hannah Rich, Director of Christians on the Left and socialist society NPF rep, sets out Labour’s overwhelming consensus for PR on the Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform website.
"It is clear beyond doubt that the Labour movement believes First Past the Post is bust and must be replaced. It would be a mistake for the National Policy Forum to pretend otherwise."@hannahmerich on the "positive, unifying campaigning" of #Labour4PR 🌹https://t.co/48RbUxcLXr
— LCER (@Labour4PR) July 19, 2023
In a joint article for Left Foot Forward, CLP NPF reps Sharon Mintoff and Duncan Enright explain why PR is key to getting Britain’s economy moving.
"In the long term, Proportional Representation delivers the political stability required for economic growth and prosperity. With PR, we can raise the bar for working people and keep it there."
— LCER (@Labour4PR) July 19, 2023
National Policy Forum reps @duncanenright & Sharon Mintoff 🌹https://t.co/eTHjMmKINr
Luke Akehurst, NEC and NPF member, penned an article for the Young Fabians Magazine about why he has long supported electoral reform.
"We cannot justify a system that does not mean every voter has an equal say in electing the government. Why should a Labour voter in a safe Tory rural seat or Labour inner city know that their vote has no impact at all?"
— LCER (@Labour4PR) July 21, 2023
New by NPF & NEC member @lukeakehurst for @youngfabians pic.twitter.com/P46yvF19h8
Max Czekalski, youth rep for the North West on the NPF, argues that backing electoral reform will help bring British democracy up to date.
“First Past The Post belongs in the past. This weekend in Nottingham, the NPF must back the consensus across Labour members, CLPs and unions in favour of electoral reform.”@MaxCzekalski in @Chartist48#Labour4PR 🌹https://t.co/AQ93MHUOby
— LCER (@Labour4PR) July 21, 2023
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