Trade unionists understand power, but our crumbling First Past the Post system is not designed for us to wield power. It’s designed to manage our disillusionment.
That’s why support for proportional representation (PR) is now the mainstream.
Since 2022 it’s been backed by 80% of Labour Party members. From Andy Burnham to Wes Streeting, from John McDonnell to Luke Akehurst, PR unites the Labour Party.
PR is also supported by the Green Party, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the SNP. The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Fair Elections, is now the largest APPG in the UK Parliament.
The trade union movement has moved decisively towards supporting electoral reform in recent years: ASLEF, BFAWU, FBU, Musicians Union, PCS, Prospect, TSSA, UCU, Unison, Unite and USDAW all now support it.
At this year’s CWU policy forum the question for us was not just should we back PR, but whether we should be left behind? Not when the vast majority of the Labour affiliated unions are now advocating for a fairer voting system that properly represents working people.
First Past the Post is a recipe for working-class defeat
The arguments for FPTP are a recipe for working-class defeat and it’s time we took them on. It’s time we owned our power.
It is claimed that FPTP provides “strong, accountable government” but what’s strong about a government formed on 35% of the vote and what’s accountable about a majority, elected by a minority, ignoring the public for five years?
Supporters of FPTP scream about “backroom coalitions” under PR. But where are the most smoke-filled rooms? In the unelected House of Lords! Or inside our own Labour Party, where FPTP forces us into one unstable “broad church.” PR doesn’t create backroom deals; it makes them transparent, between parties with clear manifestos.
But the most seductive lie is that FPTP empowers Labour for radical change. Yes, we celebrate the New Deal for Workers, but look at the last 40 years. The electoral system has punished Labour most of the time.
Under FPTP, we take one step forward, only for a Tory government, elected on a minority, to force us two steps back. Anti-trade union laws have eroded our rights and they were all delivered by FPTP-empowered Tories.
Look at New Zealand. Under FPTP, Labour was in power 25% of the time. Since adopting PR, they’ve been in government half the time. The result? More progressive, pro-worker legislation that endures because it has broad consensus. PR means more stable, Labour-led government.
The claim that FPTP combats extremism is catastrophically wrong. FPTP did not keep out the BNP in Dagenham and it has not kept out Reform UK in Derbyshire, Doncaster, Durham, Kent, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, North or West Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire or Staffordshire – Reform has an outright majority in all of these Councils and forms a minority administration in three more.
First Past the Post will catapult Reform UK into office
In the 2024 general election FPTP held Reform back, but not for much longer. The polls show it is poised to catapult them into government next time with a majority on just 30% of the vote. Ask yourself the question, if Labour can win a massive majority on 35% of the vote, why can’t Reform do the same thing?
PR reflects public opinion; it doesn’t distort it into a fake majority. The far-right thrives on grievance; PR makes every vote count, taking that grievance away.
Many of us feel the constituency link is important but if you like the constituency link (and I do) you can keep it under PR. Both the systems of PR we already use in Scotland keep a strong constituency link.
Finally, let’s be clear about our own movement.
The next leadership election will be fought on this line. To stand against PR is to be on the wrong side of history. That’s not what we as trade unionists do.
This isn’t a niche debate.
It’s about securing workers’ rights for a generation, not just one term.
It’s about building a stable, progressive settlement that can’t be undone by the next Tory minority.
FPTP offers the illusion of strong government, but the reality of perpetual instability.
PR offers a parliament that looks like the people, where every vote matters.
The only bias a voting system should have is a bias towards the voter.
It’s time for a democracy that reflects the will of the people. It’s time to do the right thing.
It’s time for all trade unionists to get behind proportional representation.