FPTP flawed & damaging - says Labour’s new policy statement
Labour’s National Policy Forum has formally recognised that our electoral system is a driver of “the distrust and alienation we see in politics”.
The policy statement was made as part of the National Policy Forum’s conclusions following weeks of extensive consultation across the whole party - including its membership, affiliated trade unions and elected representatives.
This is a significant turning point. The Labour Party has made it clear: First Past the Post is flawed and deeply damaging to our democracy.
This first public recognition in a formal policy document - coming at the end of a serious and intensive party-wide consultation - takes Labour further down the road to PR.
The Tories have shown time and again how they hold the public and our democratic system in contempt. Labour in government must address the distrust and alienation in our politics - starting with reforming our electoral system which is at the heart of so much which is wrong in British politics.
We need to show we are serious about restoring trust in politics: by giving everyone a vote that counts and turning the mounting public support for PR into action by the next Labour government.
💥 Labour’s National Policy Forum has formally recognised that our electoral system is a driver of “the distrust & alienation we see in politics”
— LCER (@Labour4PR) July 25, 2023
🌹 This is a significant turning point. @UKLabour is clear: First Past The Post is flawed & deeply damaging to our democracy
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The final wording agreed by Labour’s National Policy Forum is as follows:
“The flaws in the current voting system are contributing to the distrust and alienation we see in politics, but there is no consensus for a new system. Any proposed change to our voting system must be carefully thought-through – it cannot be dictated by political leaders or forced upon the country from the top down.”
Labour’s formal criticism of First Past the Post is the result of a massive shift within the Labour and affiliated trade union memberships.
No voter should be locked out of democracy - but Labour and the public know First Past the Post leaves millions of people without a voice. That’s a fundamental problem with our politics - and one Labour must address in government.
The National Policy Forum comes just days after Labour Together published research showing that 63% of the public support a change to PR (just 16% opposed) - and that Labour’s key target voters - including both ‘Workington Man’ and ‘Stevenage Woman’ - say changing the electoral system would be the best way to improve our politics.
