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The Prime Minister has rebuffed calls to overhaul Westminster’s voting system, despite MPs this week backing a backbench Bill to ditch First Past the Post and replace it with a more representative electoral system.
Starmer previously pledged to back electoral reform, saying during his campaign to become Labour leader in 2020 that “we’ve got to address the fact that millions of people vote in safe seats and they feel their vote doesn’t count.
“That’s got to be addressed.”
However, he has since dropped this commitment and it was not included in the Labour party’s 2024 general election manifesto.
Despite this MPs voted by 138 to 136 in favour of a bill brought forward by Lib Dem MP Sarah Olney on Tuesday for a fairer voting system, with more Labour MPs who took part in the vote backing PR than opposing it.
MPs from six parties (plus independents) backed this bill, including the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, Reform UK, Plaid Cymru, Traditional Unionist Voice, Independent MPs and 59 Labour MPs (to 50 against).
The Elections (Proportional Representation) Ten Minute Rule Bill passed its first hurdle, but will not progress, due to Starmer’s Government refusing to give it parliamentary time for further debate.
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Lib Dem leader Ed Davey pressed the PM on the issue this Wednesday at Prime Minister’s Questions, telling Starmer: “The Prime Minister has rightly spoken about the need to restore and rebuild the public’s trust in British politics. We believe a crucial part of that is reforming our electoral system to make it fairer and more proportional, and so do a majority of the British public.
“This House voted [on Tuesday] in favour of a bill for electoral reform put forward by the member for Richmond Park,” referring to Lib Dem MP Sarah Olney.
“Will the PM find Government time to make available, so we can consider this bill on electoral form and restore the public’s trust in our politics?” Davey added.
But PM Keir Starmer replied that proportional representation “is not our policy” and “we won’t be making time for it.”
“Can I just gently add that his party didn’t do too badly under the other system as it is?” – a nod to the Lib Dems’ seat haul under First Past the Post this July.
Ed Davey said he was “disappointed” by the reply.
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Responding to the vote on Tuesday, Emma Harrison, CEO of Make Votes Matter, which supported the Bill said:
“In the wake of [this] result, it is time for action. Proportional Representation is not just a technical reform; it is a transformative change that will breathe new life into our democracy.
“Our current system too often silences voters, distorts outcomes, and discourages participation. With trust in politics critically low, we need institutions that bolster a citizen engagement, not that perpetuate feelings of