A new world
There’s so much going on in the campaign for Proportional Representation. We are living in a new world of opportunity.
With over 100 MPs now signed up to Alex Sobel’s amendment calling for a National Commission on Electoral Reform, there is now unprecedented pressure for Proportional Representation in Parliament.
💥 113 MPs have now signed the amendment tabled by @alexsobel.co.uk calling for a National Commission on Electoral Reform ⚠️ First Past the Post is broken. Ask your MP to sign amendment NC31 of the Representation of the People Bill
— Labour4PR 🌹🗳️ (@labour4pr.bsky.social) 5 June 2026 at 17:49
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At last count, 113 cross-party MPs, including 75 Labour MPs, had signed our amendment to the Representation of the People Bill. And with no date yet set for the Bill’s return to the Commons, we have time to grow this list even more. Write to your MP today!
At the same time, both Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting - both of whom are pitching themselves as the next Leader of the Labour Party - have made interventions in favour of electoral reform.
“Things have shifted. The public already know that the current system doesn’t work and the overwhelming majority of Labour members agree. It’s great that we now have a very serious prospect of updating the way we vote.” 🌹#Labour4PR
— Labour4PR 🌹🗳️ (@labour4pr.bsky.social) 31 May 2026 at 12:08
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“Wes Streeting is expected to throw his weight behind electoral reform... [he] has yet to set out his position on overhauling the voting system in the UK, but @theipaper.com understands he is supportive of changing the First Past the Post system” 🌹 #Labour4PR
— Labour4PR 🌹🗳️ (@labour4pr.bsky.social) 31 May 2026 at 21:01
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The result is that senior Labour figures and commentators are paying more attention to electoral reform than ever before, with the discussion now about how, rather than whether, Labour should bring in PR - a question to which the National Commission amendment provides a ready-made answer.
Check out some of the best podcasts, articles and interventions below. First, here’s a great discussion of our amendment and parliamentary campaign on the Rundown podcast by Politics Home, featuring Alex Sobel MP.
🚨 OUT NOW 🚨 🗳️Could Burnham as PM bring electoral reform? @alexsobel.co.uk, @ollyglover.bsky.social, Emma Harrison, and Darren Hughes discuss: What could Burnham as PM mean for our democracy, given his strongly held and long-standing views about electoral reform? 🎧 Listen now: pod.fo/e/421e40
— PoliticsHome (@politicshome.bsky.social) 31 May 2026 at 21:08
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The Observer carried a detailed write-up of the parliamentary campaign and prospects for electoral reform in an article by Rachel Sylvester. Elsewhere, the Observer threw its weight behind PR in an editorial, for the first time since separating off from the Guardian.
Andy Burnham backs proportional representation for Westminster with a Labour manifesto commitment if he becomes leader. He also says he would work with the Greens. My interview for @theobserveruk.bsky.social Walk observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
— Rachel Sylvester (@rachelsylvester.bsky.social) 28 May 2026 at 12:40
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Professor Tim Bale wrote an excellent article for the FT about the path to PR. Don’t be put off by the misleading headline. As Labour MP Kevin McKenna said, it makes a powerful case about why we need a National Commission to choose a new voting system.
Excellent article from @timbale.bsky.social Sums up why I support the PR amendment from @alexsobel.co.uk to the Representation of the People Bill, asking for a commission to look at moving on from FPTP and towards a proportional system, and to agree a plan to make it actually happen this time
— Kevin McKenna MP (@kevinmckenna.co.uk) 4 June 2026 at 10:12
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Longstanding advocate Ruth Cadbury MP wrote an article for her local paper, setting out why its time for action on the voting system.
“Establishing a commission to examine the options is a sensible, proportionate first step and a way to restore trust in politics.” ✍️ @ruthcadbury.bsky.social MP on her support for electoral reform #ProportionalRepresentation #FPTP #Labour4PR 🌹 hounslowherald.com/bi-mp-backs-...
— Labour4PR 🌹🗳️ (@labour4pr.bsky.social) 3 June 2026 at 19:13
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In union land, Unite stalwart Tony Burke wrote about his change of heart about First Past the Post in the Morning Star. The shift in his position traces back to the 2021 Policy Conference, where Unite became the first large affiliated trade union to commit to PR.
“I used to be in favour of First Past the Post… But I had a major change of heart after I listened to a fantastic debate at the October 2021 Unite policy conference when our union voted to support PR.” ✍️ Tony Burke, @unitetheunion.bsky.social morningstaronline.co.uk/article/call...
— Labour4PR 🌹🗳️ (@labour4pr.bsky.social) 2 June 2026 at 17:45
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Key APPG for Fair Elections member Anna Dixon MP made another intervention in support of a fair voting system, this time in the Yorkshire Post.
“If we want voters to have faith in and trust politics again, we need a system that can truly reflect their views. I call on all MPs in Parliament to show that we are ready to be much more radical in reforming our elections” @annadixonmp.bsky.social MP www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opinion...
— Labour4PR 🌹🗳️ (@labour4pr.bsky.social) 30 May 2026 at 15:41
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And in the House of Commons, Nadia Whittome MP said First Past the Post is broken and it’s only going to get worse, adding her support to the National Commission amendment.
Nadia is right. First Past the Post is not working, and it's only going to get worse. 🌹 This is an issue that unites the Labour movement. It's time the government took the lead. ✅ Proportional Representation is the right thing to do, for the country and for Labour. @nadiawhittomemp.bsky.social
— Labour4PR 🌹🗳️ (@labour4pr.bsky.social) 28 May 2026 at 11:25
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From winning the support of Labour conference, local parties and trade unions during the last Parliament, to growing the APPG for Fair Elections and building support for a National Commission in this Parliament, the #Labour4PR campaign has been steadily putting in place the conditions needed for PR to happen.
Now, these plans are beginning to come to a head. With electoral reform more urgent than ever, we’re in a new world of opportunity.
