Nearly 100 Labour Members of Parliament are set to press Prime Minister Andy Burnham to initiate a national commission tasked with exploring the abolition of the United Kingdom's first-past-the-post (FPTP) voting system. This move, planned for Parliament's return next week, aims to bypass a direct public referendum on electoral reform.
The amendment, tabled by Alex Sobel, the Labour MP for Leeds Central and Headingley, proposes the establishment of this commission within the Prime Minister's first 100 days in office. The amendment has garnered support from over 180 MPs, with 98 of them from the Labour party. The intention is for the commission to deliver its findings before the next general election, with the goal of incorporating electoral reform into Labour's subsequent manifesto.
Supporters argue that the current FPTP system, where the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins, disadvantages smaller parties by not reflecting the overall vote share. Mike Reader, a Labour MP, stated that there is a "mandate amongst Labour MPs" and "across the public" for examining electoral reform, citing polling that indicates a majority in favor of some form of reform.
Prime Minister Burnham has previously expressed support for proportional representation (PR), a system where parliamentary seats align more closely with national vote percentages. At last year's Labour conference, he indicated support for a "manifesto commitment to a system of proportional representation to be introduced into Westminster elections at the next parliament," reportedly saying, "PR's time has come."
However, not all within the party are in favor. Paul Holmes, shadow minister for housing, communities and local government, referred to the issue as "settled," recalling the 2011 referendum where the British public rejected electoral reform. He suggested that Burnham and other party figures might be yielding to pressure from left-wing backbenchers, stating, "First Past the Post works. The Government should be focused on stopping the boats and cutting our bloated welfare bill, rather than appeasing their lefty MPs."
A Labour source indicated that the government's immediate priority for the Representation of the People Bill is votes at 16 and strengthened political donation rules. While acknowledging Burnham's commitment to electoral reform, the source suggested it remains a matter for a future party manifesto, requiring a secured mandate.
The Representation of the People Bill is scheduled for its final stages in Parliament on September 2, shortly after the conclusion of the parliamentary summer recess.