March 3, 2023

Why Trade Unionists Should Support Proportional Representation

Trade Union Banner March through Norwich
Credit: Roger Blackwell, Flickr

Trade unions are essential for advancing social and economic justice and defending the rights of workers. However, the voices and experiences of trade union members are not adequately represented by the current Westminster system. The prevalence of “safe seats” in Parliament means that MPs may retain their seats for decades, which discourages public participation and reduces the diversity of candidates …

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January 30, 2023

As ministers continue their attack on working people our broken system means MPs can continue to play by their own rules

Picture of union members marching
Credit: A Festival of Left Ideas,

The government’s Strike (Minimum Service Levels) Bill is “a full-frontal attack on working people and the trade unions they organise within.” say Unison in an article ‘Three things you need to know about the anti-strike bill.’ Since 1980, there have been no less than fourteen employment and trade union acts, restricting and then to a degree, clawing back trade union …

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October 6, 2022

Labour Conference backs scrapping first past the post

Labour Conference 2022 stage
Credit: PFTM,

We did it! This week Labour conference voted to back a motion calling on the Party to scrap Westminster’s failing First Past the Post system and to introduce a fair, proportional voting system instead. Support was overwhelming not just amongst Labour members but, thanks to the work of hundreds of activists across the country, with the support of the Trade …

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August 10, 2022

First Past the Post favours the Tories and works against Labour – That’s why it’s the Tories’ favourite voting system

Polling Station Sign, ERS
Credit: PFTM,

Whether it’s lies over Partygate or handing out covid contracts to supporters and allies or Boris Johnson’s plans to stuff the Lords with new peers in his final weeks in office, this government are never embarrassed by their own failure to understand the foundations of a good democracy.  Trust, transparency, fairness and accountability – this is what people look for …

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June 17, 2022

UNISON just passed a motion in support of proportional representation

UNISON conference
Credit: Caroline Osborne., L4ND

Delegates at UNISON’s National Delegate Conference have just backed a motion calling on the UK’s biggest union to ‘reject First Past the Post’ and for the adoption of PR for UK general elections. The vote, which saw an overwhelming majority of delegates back the motion, marks a significant moment for the Labour movement, as Unite the Union, the UK’s second …

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