Don’t just sit there...

If we have such a dysfunctional electoral system, you’d be justified in asking why something has not been done about it before now. Depressingly, it’s all about self-interest. Westminster politicians of both parties of government still tarry at the First-past-the-post gaming table simply because every throw of the dice offers the chance of an outright win. They want absolute power. They do not wish to share it. They would rather lose, so long as there was a chance that they could win on the next throw of the dice. Both main parties have long abandoned any ambition to represent the majority of the electorate and so both cling to the electoral system that they believe will deliver absolute majorities of seats on a minority of the votes from “their” people.

This does not stand close examination, of course, but both main parties have so far been able to swerve any meaningful debate on the subject simply because the issue has rarely appeared on the national radar. The appalling July 2024 General Election results may have changed this depending on whether the reform movement can maintain momentum. It’s all about raising and sustaining awareness and you can play your part.

...get involved!

To begin with, write to your MP, whose details you will find on the www.parliament.uk website. Just say that you have read about the need for electoral reform on this website – www.supervote.org.uk – and ask for their comments on it.

Further reading? Try Michael Meadowcroft's "The Politics of Electoral Reform"  available from Beecroft Publications via www.beemeadowcroft.uk

Then join something! There is now a host of campaigning organisations. Have a look at some of these web sites:

The Electoral Reform Society                             www.electoral-reform.org.uk

STV Action                                                               https://stvact.wordpress.com

Make Votes Matter                                                www.makevotesmatter.org.uk

Get PR Done                                                             www.getprdone.org.uk

Conservative Action for Electoral Reform       https://conservativeelectoralreform.org.uk

Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform           https://labourforelectoralreform.org.uk

Liberal Democrats for Electoral Reform          www.lder.org

Whatever you do, don't just sit there!

Published by David Green in August 2024

Email: david.green@supervote.org.uk