Government Could Reverse Conservative Attempts to ‘Gerrymander’ Mayoral Voting Systems

The Labour Government could reverse Conservative attempts to “gerrymander” the voting system for electing Mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners in England and Wales, a minister has signalled.

Former Labour MP and pro-PR campaigner Sandy Martin wrote on Wednesday that the Government had signalled that it plans to “address” the voting system used for picking directly-elected Mayors and Police & Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in an upcoming White Paper. 

Martin was relaying comments from minister Jim McMahon, speaking at the Local Government Association conference earlier this week.

Labour’s 2024 manifesto had backed a review of the system, stating that “Labour will review the voting system for directly elected Mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners,” which was seen as an opportunity to switch back to the two-preference system. 

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government told Byline Times proposals would be set out in the next few months: “The devolution white paper and new framework will provide the powers for local leaders to deliver for their places.

“The white paper will be published in the autumn.”

The development comes after heavy criticism of the Conservative Government’s 2022 decision to switch these elections from the Supplementary Vote (SV) system to First Past the Post (FPTP). Under SV, voters could express a second preference, which advocates say helped ensure candidates needed broader community support to win.

Mayors including Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham were highly critical of the move, which was imposed without cross-party consultation or a clear manifesto commitment. They viewed it as a way of blocking out voters who put Labour as their second preference (far more than those who put Conservatives as theirs).

Labour MP Andrew Ranger, a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Elections, told Byline Times: “It’s welcome news that the Government will address the voting system for directly elected Mayors and Police & Crime Commissioners. 

“Under First Past the Post, we’re seeing Mayors and PCCs elected with less than 40% of the vote up and down the country. If we’re going to restore trust in politics, elected representatives need to be able to demonstrate broad support in their communities – and everyone needs to know they have a vote that counts in all our elections.”

Analysis by Professor Alan Renwick of UCL’s Constitution Unit found that the switch to FPTP in May’s elections benefited Conservative candidates significantly, securing them between four and twelve additional victories. 

Data also showed that 19 out of 20 winning Conservative candidates were elected with less than 50% of the vote, while overall turnout dropped by 5%.

“This announcement represents a small step in the right direction…and will create opportunities to engage with the Government about First Past the Post in Westminster,” a spokesperson for Labour for a New Democracy said.  

“Until we have a fair voting system for UK general elections, we’re at constant risk of handing the country back to the Tories…on a minority of the vote.”

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Campaigning for electoral reform could see a boost this Parliament. New Labour MP for Macclesfield, Tim Roca, told the House of Commons recently that “unfortunately too many are trapped in constituencies where their vote still doesn’t count.” Roca called for moves towards “greater electoral reform.”

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham called for a broader review of the voting system at the Labour Party’s post-victory conference in Liverpool in September. The Labour for a New Democracy spokesperson added that such a review “would be a good way to start” the reform process.

Labour MP Louise Jones also used her maiden speech to advocate for fundamental democratic reform, joining Green Party MP Ellie Chowns and Liberal Democrat MP John Milne in recent parliamentary interventions supporting fairer elections. 

Neal Lawson, Director of cross-party campaign group Compass, said: “It’s great news that the Labour Government recognises the need to review the First Past the Post electoral system used for Mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner elections. 

“FPTP is, in Labour’s own words, a driver of “the distrust and alienation we see in politics” because it creates shallow mandates that ultimately lead to weak Government – as we are already beginning to see with this new Labour administration.

“Given Labour has accepted that FPTP is unsuitable for mayoral elections, it should go one step further: introduce proportional representation for Westminster so every vote counts, and no one is forced to back a party they don’t truly support.”

Reform advocates are encouraging MPs to join the All Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Elections, with a call for the party’s Executive Committee to reconsider its position on proportional representation. The party has formally recognised the flaws of First Past the Post but has been reluctant to go further – save for in Scotland and Wales where Tony Blair’s Government introduced PR voting for devolved elections. 

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government was contacted for comment. 

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