Activists protested outside Parliament on 2 September, demanding electoral reform, specifically Proportional Representation. They included representatives of electoral reform campaign groups Make Votes Matter, Compass and Unlock Democracy.
Gathered behind a banner saying “Wake Up Westminster”, the campaigners triggered 34 alarm clocks to ring simultaneously, representing the 34% vote that afforded Labour a landslide majority at the 2024 general election.
The action coincided with the third reading of the Representation of the People Bill. Protesters, along with Labour MP Clive Lewis, expressed support for Alex Sobel’s amendment calling for a review of the UK’s voting system.
The amendment, which gathered 185 MP signatures, making it the largest amendment since the general election, was ruled out of scope and did not get heard. However, democracy minister Florence Eshalomi responded to the amendment saying:
The government’s priority is a politics that works for all people in all places, not some people in some places. The prime minister remains committed to electoral reform as a way of supporting that objective.
However, we must be honest, this is a complex constitutional matter and it is premature to legislate now for one approach. I would be very happy to meet with many Members from across the House to hear their views, and look at how we can work on a strong proposal and discuss the next steps.
On 3 September, representatives from Make Votes Matter and Compass delivered an open letter to Andy Burnham at 10 Downing Street, with over 20,000 signatures. The letter calls for a National Commission on Electoral Reform to design a new voting system for the UK.
Emma Harrison, CEO of Make Votes Matter, says:
Just last year, Andy Burnham described Proportional Representation as ‘an idea whose time has come’. Now he has the opportunity to turn his longstanding commitment to fair votes into action.
Our current voting system leaves millions without a voice in parliament and allows entire communities to be ignored by Westminster. We already know that the prime minister is able to talk the talk: now he needs to show courage where it matters and actively push for this much needed change.
Featured image via the Canary
By The Canary
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