Labour MPs and members immediately welcomed Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s announcement of a National Commission on Electoral Reform at Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.
The Prime Minister made the announcement to loud cheers from Conference floor.
Immediately following the announcement many Labour MPs and members gathered to celebrate.
MPs were quick to welcome the announcement on social media too: Alex Sobel, Zubir Ahmed, Rachel Blake, Andy Macnae, Luke Akehurst, Euan Stainbank, Mike Reader.
In his speech, the Prime Minister stressed that electoral reform is key to underpinning greater stability and fairer representation in UK politics:
“We can’t succeed in the eyes of the world if we continue with the levels of political turbulence we have seen in recent times. It is always in my mind that I’m the seventh Prime Minister in ten years.
It is why I want to underpin our plan for Britain with a new politics.
We will all have failed in our public duties if we carry on as we are and open the door of Number 10 to a divisive government on less than 30% of the vote.”
Listen to Laura Parker from Labour for a New Democracy on BBC Radio 5 Live responding to the announcement:
Labour MPs have continued to welcome the move:
“This is a brilliant first step from the government. Westminster’s electoral system is an outlier internationally: most strong social democracies around the world use Proportional Representation. I am glad the Prime Minister has heard calls from the majority of Labour colleagues in Parliament and rank and file members on this. I hope all parties will now take the opportunity to work in good faith with the National Commission, which will provide an independent and rigorous process where all voting systems can be assessed.”
“Electoral reform is well overdue for Westminster. It’s great that the Prime Minister has shown leadership on this issue in his first 100 days – most MPs are in no doubt that First Past the Post is driving increasing political volatility in a multi-party electorate. There are many options for electoral reform, and it’s right that they be assessed thoroughly by an independent process.”
“Proportional Representation would go a long way to tackling the root causes of Westminster’s divisive and volatile political culture. Governments must be able to command the confidence of a majority of the public – it is not acceptable for any government to be elected on less than 30% of the vote in a modern democratic country.”
“This is a huge victory for all those that want to strengthen our democracy, rather than fuelling the fires of division. Elections should not be about a tiny number of voters in a few places, they should be about all voters, everywhere. A fair voting system will mean that parties have to campaign and pay attention to everyone, rather than focusing on just a few swing seats.”
“Political instability drives chaos for businesses and government delivery. It’s hugely welcome that the Prime Minister has set out a pathway for electoral reform – we must ensure people are fairly represented and governments are elected by a strong majority of the country. To me and most MPs it is increasingly obvious that First Past the Post no longer delivers either. I look forward to the Commission taking up its work.”
YouGov Polling over the summer, prior to the Prime Minister’s announcement, found a majority of all MPs are in favour of establishing a National Commission on Electoral Reform to review Britain’s voting system. The proposal for a National Commission is supported by 53% of all MPs, with just 34% opposed. Support is even higher amongst Labour MPs, with 55% in favour and just 29% against.
Labour Party Conference has passed policy in favour of Proportional Representation and over three-quarters of Labour-affiliated Trade Unions back electoral reform.
