A significant bloc of Labour Members of Parliament is urging party leader Andy Burnham to prioritize electoral reform, including potentially scrapping the United Kingdom's first-past-the-post voting system, should he become prime minister.
Approximately 88 Labour MPs, representing more than one-fifth of the party's representation in the House of Commons, have endorsed a proposal to create a body dedicated to investigating electoral reform. These MPs are among a larger group of 166 cross-party signatories on an amendment to the Government's Representation of the People Bill, scheduled for debate in the coming week.
The proposed amendment seeks to establish a 'National Commission on Electoral Reform' tasked with examining the feasibility of replacing the current first-past-the-post system used for electing Members of Parliament. The substantial backing from Labour MPs tests Burnham's commitment to electoral reform, a stance he has publicly supported. In a recent online forum, Burnham described himself as a "strong supporter of electoral reform" and expressed a desire for Labour to include such a commitment in its next manifesto.
Supporters of proportional representation argue that a shift from the current system could enable smaller parties, such as the Green Party, to participate in a Westminster government. Labour MPs have framed the establishment of a commission as an "open goal" for Burnham, potentially achievable within his first 100 days in office.
Alex Sobel, the Labour MP for Leeds Central and Headingley and the amendment's sponsor, noted that his proposal has garnered more support than previous efforts, with signatories from eight different parties, half of whom are Labour MPs. Sobel indicated that further endorsements are still possible before the upcoming debate, emphasizing the amendment's popularity among both MPs and the public, especially in light of an anticipated change in government.
Chris Curtis, Labour MP for Milton Keynes North, highlighted that Burnham has consistently advocated for proportional representation, starting with the concept of a national commission. Curtis suggested that the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) is now actively pushing for the government to address this issue. He likened the opportunity to an "open goal" for Burnham, allowing him to focus on other priorities while the commission addresses electoral reform.
The Labour Party's conference in 2022 passed a resolution supporting a move towards a proportional representation voting system. However, the party's 2024 manifesto focused on other electoral changes, such as extending voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds, which is the subject of the bill up for debate.
Luke Akehurst, Labour MP for North Durham, commented that the PLP has embraced and is now leading the charge for voting reform, with widespread support across all factions of the party. He stressed the need for a national commission to build consensus on the most suitable voting system for contemporary Britain.