[link removed]

Dear John,

Our petition ([link removed]) telling Labour to prioritise proportional representation has nearly reached 20,000 signatures. This action – and other public initiatives like it – send a clear message to the Labour leadership. It’s an urgent reminder that if they form the next government, they’ll be responsible for taking real action to get us out of this mess.

As you’ve probably noticed, ActionStorm allows for signers to leave comments explaining why the petition is important to them. We’ve gone through your messages and found five key reasons that people support making 2024 the last election run on First-Past-The-Post. Here’s what we found people cared most about:

1. Fairness:

As one signer, Dave, mentioned, “The current Conservative Westminster government won a landslide victory on 43% of the votes”. Real democracy means fair representation, which means that votes shouldn’t be thrown away, and candidates shouldn’t represent entire constituencies with a minority vote (as routinely happens under FPTP).

Many others echoed the sentiment that as a democratic country, we should strive for a fair system that actually embodies democratic values. As another signer, Peter, put it, PR is “The only fair way to vote.”

2. Functionality:

Anthony argued that “The pendulum approach to politics isn’t working.” Users expressed concern that the austerity, scandal, and disfunction of the 2010s and early 2020s in Britain was a product of our FPTP system. A more proportional politics would have necessitated far more deliberation and debate, and given people far more say over certain policies and certain politicians. As Julia said, “FPTP is no longer fit for purpose and belongs in the 19th Century”.

Others, like Zoe, pointed out that the very idea of “having to vote tactically rather than who you want to vote for” shows that the current system is not fit for purpose.

3. Justice:

A number of people commented on the way that FPTP enables some of the worst actors in public life, and actively marginalises the groups that suffer the worst consequences of political failure.

Laura wrote that the “current system is used as a way to marginalise those who are more vulnerable and maintain and abuse positions of power by politicians.”

4. Curbing Extremism

Others, like Paul, support PR because it “helps moderate extremism”. Turning the classic talking point used to defend FPTP voting on its head, signers pointed out that Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak are all products of FPTP, and support a number of unpopular policies many would consider to be “extreme”.

There’s concern that if Labour doesn’t embrace PR in its first term in office, the right-wing radicalism brewing across the benches opposite may come back in force in 2029. FPTP will only make it more likely for them to find a way in. As Joyce pointed out, that may be something the country “can not survive”.

5. Trust

Robert wrote that “Getting rid of FPTP could keep the United Kingdom united and restore people's faith in Democracy.” At a time when a record-low percentage of Britons trust their government or their politicians, users see PR as a way to bring regular people back into politics.

It's time to break free from what Adam described as “the two-party rut”, into a new inclusive and deliberative political system. PR is one major element of that transition.

See all of the responses, with more coming in by the minute, on our petition page ([link removed]) . Is there a reason missing above that you’d like to add? Sign the petition and comment away…
ADD YOUR COMMENT ([link removed])

Don’t forget to share far and wide!

Enjoy the rest of your week,

The Open Britain Team

View email in browser ([link removed])
Open Britain . Orion House . 14 Barn Hill . Stamford, PE9 2AE . United Kingdom
update your preferences ([link removed]) or unsubscribe ([link removed])