Democracy campaigners have clashed with Keir Starmer after the Labour leader’s official spokesperson said he had denounced electoral reform.

Keir Starmer has placed himself at odds with his party and affiliated trade unions by actively opposing a change to the UK’s electoral system today, the Byline Times reports.

Democracy reform campaigners condemned the remarks from Starmer’s official spokesperson, who revealed that the Labour leader has a “long-standing view against proportional representation.”

This is the first time Starmer has actively opposed proportional representation, placing him on a collision course with his own party.

During his leadership campaign three years ago, Starmer seemed somewhat more enthusiastic about electoral reform, saying: “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 by electoral reform.”

The comments come after USDAW became the latest union to back a change to FPTP at Westminster elections. Unions representing over two thirds of Labour affiliates now support electoral reform.

The Labour membership also overwhelmingly supports electoral reform; last year’s party conference backed a motion calling on the party to embrace a proportional electoral system.

However, they do not control the manifesto and Starmer has repeatedly refused to throw his support behind the issue since winning the leadership.

Neal Lawson, Director of Compass, a cross-party campaign group dedicated to electoral reform, said:

“Keir Starmer’s comments are in clear opposition to the wishes of his party membership, the unions and the wider public. 

“Starmer must not ignore these vital calls to renew our politics and replace our voting system. These concerns are not peripheral; democracy is a first-order issue.

“It’s deeply disappointing that Starmer is unwilling to move beyond ‘sticking plaster politics’ and commit to urgent reform of our democratic system.

“We need a politics that delivers for the many, not just the few, and that means a fair voting system that ensures every vote counts and everyone’s voice is heard.”

Compass polling last year revealed public support for PR has hit an all-time high, with 56% of people – including 71% of Labour voters – now backing a change to the voting system.