PR best way to improve UK politics - say key voters
New polling by Labour Together shows that Labour's key target voters think Proportional Representation would make a more positive impact on UK politics than any other democratic reform.
As the National Policy Forum convenes in Nottingham to agree a draft policy programme, the research reveals that both 'Workington Man' and 'Stevenage Woman' think PR would improve our political system more than Lords reform, more devolution or any other change.
This is important. These are the voters Labour needs the most in order to win the next general election. See below for details - and please use the share buttons below to help this reach as many party decision-makers as possible.
As set out in "A Peerless Democracy", Labour Together worked with Opinium Research to poll 4,000, asking which democratic reform would have the biggest positive impact on Britain’s political system. Changing the voting system to PR was by far the most popular answer - topping every voter segment.
AL = Activist Left; CL = Centrist Liberals; DS = Disillusioned Suburbans; ET = English Traditionalists; PL = Patriotic Left; RR = Rural Right.
This includes Labour's "key swing voters" - the two groups most needed to win the next general election:
‘The Patriotic Left’ (also known as 'Workington Man') - former Labour voters in the 'Red Wall'
'Disillusioned suburbans’ (a.k.a. ‘Stevenage Woman') - typically younger and economically insecure suburban voters.
Both groups see moving to a proportional electoral system as the most positive reform on offer.
More information about Labour’s most important target voters.
When asked whether they support or oppose a change to a proportional system the overwhelming majority of voters backed PR - with 63% in favour and just 16% against.
Labour can and must make a bold offer on reforming the Lords, extending devolution and wider democratic change. But this research shows the most important and far-reaching reform of all - PR for general elections - is also the most electorally advantageous.
The National Policy Forum should take on board these findings - and back the overwhelming consensus in favour of PR that exists across the Labour movement.
🌹 New research from @LabourTogether reveals:
— LCER (@Labour4PR) July 21, 2023
💥 Electoral reform would make the most positive impact of any democratic reform - say Labour's key target voters.
📊 Both 'Workington Man' and 'Stevenage Woman' see PR as *more* positive than devolution or Lords reform.
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