Labour backs Proportional Representation
Labour conference votes to back PR as policy.
We've done it. Labour conference has just voted to support our motion. The press release we've sent out to journalists is below.
More to follow. Thank you for making this happen.
PRESS RELEASE
Labour backs historic motion to bring in proportional representation
Members and unions overturn century of Labour Party support for First Past the Post (FPTP) and call for fair electoral system that properly reflects way people at Westminster
The Labour Party has voted to ditch the First the Past the Post electoral system and support replacing it with a fairer proportional electoral system.
The historic vote is the first time either of the two main parties has moved to unequivocally back implementing a system of proportional representation.
The victory comes after members and trade unions voted overwhelmingly for a manifesto commitment to introduce PR for general elections in the first term of the next Labour government.
The motion was passed with overwhelming support on a show of hands.
Laura Parker, Labour for a New Democracy said:
“This is a historic moment for the Labour Party as it votes unequivocally to scrap our broken First Past the Post system and in support of a proportional representation where every vote counts.
“This seismic shift in the Labour party has been driven by thousands of members and trade unionists demanding an end to an electoral system that leaves millions feeling forgotten by Westminster.
“Today’s vote makes clear the party and our movement knows that for any Labour government to deliver a fair and more equal society we must have a fair voting system too.”
Proposing the motion from conference floor, David Ward, Ashfield CLP said:
“Labour’s voice, Labour’s voters and Labour’s purpose - to defend ordinary people - are being strangled by First Past the Post.
“We have a Tory government which - as we saw with last week’s obscene budget - prioritises protecting bankers bonuses and cutting taxes for the rich. The Tories can get away with this because our current electoral system lets them. Their trickle-down economics are underpinned by trickle down democracy.
“It falls to Labour to stand up for the millions of ordinary people who so desperately need a government on their side - with a voting system which no longer leaves them behind.”
Seconding the motion, Carissma Griffiths, Vice-Chair of North West Leicestershire CLP said:
“The stark inequalities in our economy are rooted in the stark inequality at the heart of our democratic system.
“I joined Labour because it is the party of equality. The party of the equal pay act, the party of the sex discrimination act, the party of the human rights act.
“Now we need an equal votes act - because social and economic equality cannot be achieved without political equality.”
ENDS
