Dear John,
Tomorrow (Monday), Open Britain and Fair Vote UK are launching a historic initiative that could transform British democracy – and I want you to be among the first to know about it.
The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Fair Elections will bring together MPs from across the political spectrum, united by a single purpose: rebuilding trust in our democratic system.
This isn't just another talking shop. This action-oriented APPG has identified three specific goals that would go a long way to addressing the dysfunction we see in our democracy today:
Replacing FPTP with a proportional system, making seats match votes
Eliminating dark money and undemocratic influence from politics
Countering disinformation in public debate
Riots in UK cities this summer and the resurgence of Donald Trump’s authoritarian populist MAGA movement in the States in the autumn have combined to create a rare moment of clarity. MPs and civil society leaders now see what we have long known: our democracy is in need of fundamental reform, not cosmetic tweaks.
Our partners at Fair Vote UK have been laying the groundwork for these reforms through years of careful Parliamentary work. Now, with the creation of this APPG, there is a very real opportunity to transform these proposals into real-world reform.
Here's where Open Britain – and you – come in. Our role is to ensure these Parliamentary initiatives don't remain trapped within Westminster's bubble. We need to be the ‘bridge’ between what’s going on inside Parliament and what’s happening outside. We need to work with campaigns that share our objectives - and those whose campaigns are being held back by the distortions of the current system - to build an irresistible public demand for change. Building pressure inside Parliament AND across society will give us the very best chance of success.
There’s no denying this will be a monumental task. It will require Open Britain to change how we do things, to be more ambitious and more assertive in our campaigning. We will have to grow our team, reignite the grassroots engine of our People’s Vote days, and much, much more. It will not be easy…but we are determined to do whatever it takes to put ordinary people back in the driving seat of UK politics.
This new phase of work comes at a crucial time. While other democracies grapple with authoritarian governments, Britain has a chance to strengthen its democratic foundations before the worst of the crisis hits. We can alert more people to the dangers a broken democracy brings. We can put in place measures that slow, or reverse, the rising tide of authoritarian populism in the UK. And we can ensure ordinary people have a meaningful say when matters that affect their lives are being decided…reducing the frustrations that the far-right feed on. But the window of opportunity won't stay open indefinitely…we need to move quickly.
As you know, Open Britain's independence is guaranteed by our grassroots funding model. Every donation we receive from our supporters, no matter how small, helps us push for what’s right without the risk of ending up in the pocket of some wealthy funder. If you're able to make a contribution, please make it today…you'll be supporting one of the most important democratic reform initiatives in recent British history.
Monday is the beginning of an exciting new chapter for us. I look forward to updating you further after the launch.
All the very best,
Mark Kieran
CEO, Open Britain
