Ministers publish political reform proposals
Today the government set out its proposals for democratic reform in its Strategy for Modern and Secure Elections. The plans will introduce the right to vote for 16 and 17 year olds, widen the range of IDs voters can use at polling stations, and move towards automated voter registration. But there is a glaring omission: any plan to address our broken electoral system.
Today, Democracy Minister Rushanara Ali was called to the dispatch box, where Labour MPs joined others from across the House in repeatedly challenging the Government’s failure to take action to address First Past the Post.
Chair of the All-Party Group for Fair Elections, Alex Sobel, welcomed the steps the Government had taken, but asked the Minister why they are not reviewing Westminster elections, given First Past the Post is rightly being abolished for Mayoral elections.
The Government has presented its plans as “Restoring trust in our democracy”. But any plan that hopes to restore trust in democracy must deal with Westminster’s broken First Past The Post voting system - a system Labour recognises is contributing to now record levels of distrust in politics.
Labour MPs called on the Government to use this opportunity to build consensus for a better alternative to Westminster’s failing voting system.
In an increasingly volatile, multi-party world, the effects First Past the Post has on our politics will only get worse. With public support for electoral reform now at an all time high, the Government must not allow itself to get outpaced by a rapidly failing system.
There is growing pressure in Parliament for the Government to set up a National Commission for Electoral reform, as called for by the APPG for Fair Elections - Westminster’s largest all-party group. With most of its more than 150 members Labour parliamentarians, support for fair votes spans both sides of the House.
