It was the moment we had all been waiting for but hardly dared hope for. Speaking in Liverpool, in his first speech as Labour Party Leader in September, our new prime minister, Andy Burnham said, “In past years, you have voted twice to support electoral reform. I hear you. I agree with you. “We will contest the next election with …
Continue readingThe biggest news in the world of people campaigning for electoral reform is that we now have a new prime minister who believes in proportional representation (PR). Darren Hughes, Chief Executive at the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) examines what our new PM has said in the past and what he might do to ‘rewire Britain.’ In Andy Burnham we have …
Continue readingMay’s local elections got just about everyone discussing our voting system and the Labour leadership. With Sir Keir Starmer bowing out as Prime Minister, all eyes are now fixed on his likely successor, Andy Burnham. The good news for all those who believe that everyone’s vote should count equally, is that Andy Burnham is a supporter of proportional representation (PR). …
Continue readingAmid all the political drama over the weekend, with the fallout from the elections and then calls on the Prime Minister to resign, there was also a significant development in the campaign for proportional representation. On Sunday, members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) voted decisively to reject Westminster’s failing First Past the Post (FPTP) electoral system and back a move to …
Continue readingThe calls for a debate on our voting system grow louder every day. More people are getting engaged and realising that First Past the Post simply doesn’t represent the will of the people. In fact, there was so much commentary this month, that we didn’t have space to give you every story, but here are the top lines and stories …
Continue readingA New Year brings with it new supporters of electoral reform including business leaders and The Economist. Here are the top lines and stories from the UK, Parliament and trade unions. How our voting system affects jobs, pay, and investment Topping the list of things that trade unions tell us they want to talk about are ‘industrial issues’ such as …
Continue readingOur campaign for democratic reform is rising from the grassroots and reaching the people in power. Here are the top lines and stories from the UK, Parliament and trade unions. In the UK The latest YouGov poll, released on 28th October, shows the chaos that will be caused by retaining the First Past the Post system as voters continue the …
Continue readingWe have good news! Things are starting to move rapidly in the right direction for democratic reform. Here are the top lines on recent events in the UK, in Parliament and in trade unions. In the UK The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) has published the latest findings from their British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey. The survey has been conducted …
Continue readingMeeting NASUWT members in Liverpool It was a pleasure to take an exhibition stall to NASUWT conference in Liverpool earlier this year and launch our updated ‘Trade Union Case for Political Reform’ booklet. Just like MPs, support for electoral reform is growing amongst trade unionists and it was pretty non-stop on our stand. We had so many interesting conversations, answered …
Continue readingIt’s International Women’s Day again. A time of year that often leaves me reflecting on why we still need a special day each year to highlight the lack of equality in our society. It is 55 years since Barbara Castle, as Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, introduced the Equal Pay Act 1970. The catalyst for that legislation was …
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