On average, it took almost half a million votes to elect each Green MP, compared to just 24,000 for each elected Labour representative.
by Bill Curtis
2024-11-26
in Politics
PA
Newly elected Labour MPs are mounting pressure on Keir Starmer to introduce proportional representation by the next general election to restore the public’s trust in politics.
More than half of the over-100 MPs who have joined the newly established all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on fair elections represent Labour, including 43 members from the 2024 intake.
The APPG, along with the campaign group Free Vote, is calling on the government to establish a “national commission for electoral reform”, allowing Brits and experts alike to put forward a “fair, democratic alternative” to the first past the post system.
It comes after their latest report indicates that 64 per cent of the public wants the government to address the flaws in the current electoral system before the next general election.
On average, it took 24,000 votes to elect each Labour MP, 49,000 per Lib Dem, 56,000 for every Conservative MP, 486,000 votes per Green, and 824,000 for every Reform MP.
The report also calls for tighter regulations on dark money in politics and demands more transparency from social media companies over how they handle “legal but harmful” content, including disinformation.
Putting forward their aim for reform, the group said: “A broad political consensus has emerged: parties with a combined 500 MPs (77 per cent), including Labour, are in agreement that FPTP is a flawed system that is causing distrust in politics.
“New polling has found almost two thirds (64 per cent) of the public believe the government should address these flaws before the next general election. There is now record and majority public support for changing to a proportional voting system, particularly among those who trust politics.”
Labour MP and chair of the APPG Alex Sobel said: “The popular vote a party needs to win a majority has been steadily falling for decades, and now first past the post has delivered a landslide on just a third of the vote.
“Are we really comfortable with a situation where a party – even an extreme party – can win a thumping majority with, say, just three out of 10 votes? Because if things continue, that’s where we’re heading.”
Labour party officials are planning to hold annual check-ins with its 20 affiliated socialist societies, in a bid to ensure “high standards of governance and democracy”, LabourList can reveal.
A party document circulated in advance of today’s Labour national executive committee meeting state thats there are currently “few opportunities to ensure that socialist societies maintain the high standards expected of a Labour Party affiliate with related democratic rights, or to provide support and advice”.
There are no regularly scheduled meetings between the party and societies, meaning “inconsistent levels of dialogue”, the document says.
It recommends the NEC approve plans today for an annual meeting between society chairs, secretaries and treasurers and party staff, including the General Secretary’s office and potentially governance, finance, membership, elections and digital teams, “depending on the needs of the socialist society”.
Are you involved in a socialist society? Let us know your views on the changes – email mail@labourlist.org, stating if you’re happy for us to report your comments anonymously or on record.
Such meetings will include “ensuring that each society holds democratic elections in line with their constitution and that the party holds the correct records for their Executive Committee”.
They will also cover “ensuring that financial records are accurate and well maintained, with treasurers aware of and able to comply with the requirements of PPERA and related legislation as it may relate to socialist societies”.
There will also be an “update on activities over the previous year”, and confirmation of affiliation fees.
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The party will also offer volunteer-run societies the chance to seek help on carrying out internal elections and annual general meetings, maintaining membership databases and websites, fundraising and finance, governance, campaigning or engagement with politicians.
Labour was not immediately available for comment.
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