IT’S TIME TO MAKE VOICE HEARD FOR A FAIRER VOTING SYSTEM

AT THIS autumn’s Labour Party Conference a whopping 80% of delegates representing Labour members voted in favour of a proposal that “the next Labour government must change the voting system for general elections to a form of Proportional Representation”.

But sadly half the votes at Labour conference are cast by affiliated trade unions, most of whom have no policy on Proportional Representation. Disappointingly, the motion fell.

What can electors do? At present you could sign the Make Votes Matter campaign’s new petition to the Labour Party urging commitment to the reform of our outdated and failing first past the post system to one of PR, and in particular STV.

We need to show Labour that supporting the old FPTP system is costing our UK electorate fair, accountable and effective representation; in the process costing it support in denying the balanced representational needs of the majority of the people in a modern multi party, multicultural and diverse society.

Historically organisations such as the Levellers from the time of the English Civil War, a movement respected by Labour as one of its core founding inspirations, would undoubtedly have supported this needed reform yet its followers of today repeatedly deny adoption of that fundamental needed reform. Shameful.

There is no need to wait for a general election. You can write today to your union if you are a member of one to express support for this needed reform.

And if so minded in particular the adoption of the use of the Single Transferable Vote, a system that ensures well over 80% of sensibly cast votes help elect an MP compared to less than 50% where so many votes do not in most constituencies; reducing the impact for example of crony party choices being foisted on so many in so called safe seats as things so unsatisfactorily stand under FPTP.

Reg Barritt