Last month, the House of Commons voted to back Proportional Representation for the first time in history – yet Sarah Olney’s Ten Minute Rule Bill is unlikely to be allocated further parliamentary time.

It’s hugely welcome, then, on 30th January, Parliament will debate reforming our voting system.

This is our chance to push for change. But we need MPs in that debate, speaking up for a fairer, more democratic future.

 

In 2024 we saw the most disproportionate election outcome in history thanks to our broken First Past the Post system.

Our voting system means our parliaments never represent the views of the public. Instead, power is entrenched in the hands of the few – swing voters in swing seats, big media, the super wealthy and party donors. To win you need to promise everything to them, and little to the rest of us.

Nothing important changes, frustration and resentment set in, and the populist right festers. We need change – now.

Proportional Representation is the key to unlocking a political system that can achieve climate, economic and democratic justice, whilst turning the page on the failures of the neoliberal era.

It’s the voting system, as much as anything else, which robs us of the ideas and the influence to solve the climate crisis and address inequality.

The system is designed to ensure whoever wins can’t change anything. And is accelerating the shift to the populist right.

We have to break this stranglehold on our democracy.

There’s a better way. MPs can make the case for it on the 30th January. Make sure yours does.

Thanks to the work of our members and our allies, we’ve already made huge advances in this fight:

• In November, over 100 MPs called for the government to launch a ‘National Commission for Electoral Reform’
• Last month, the House of Commons voted for PR for the first time ever following a brief, ten-minute debate.
• This is the most pro-PR Parliament in history, with record support on both sides of the House.

We have the opportunity to make this the latest in a series of wins for PR – and create a springboard to start the biggest year in this campaign yet.

We have teamed up with Make Votes Matter, Unlock Democracy, Open Britain and more for this push. Now we need you.

Make sure your MP is in the chamber on the 30th January debating this vital issue.

Here’s the four things you can do to make the 30th as big as possible.

1. Write to your MP by clicking here.

Then:

2. Share this action on Twitter, Facebook, or BlueSky using the tools you’ll see after you send a letter to your MP

3. Write a post on Twitter, Facebook, or BlueSky and tag your MP telling them you have written them a letter about the upcoming debate.

4. Text a friend or local group chat using WhatsApp to spread the word.

Thank you for your commitment to fighting for our democracy – we’ve never needed that fight more.