** 💥BIGGEST APPG IN PARLIAMENT💥
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Dear John,

I have some great news for you!

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Elections has just become the biggest APPG in Parliament! It now has more than 150 members ([link removed]) (including 130 MPs - more than His Majesty’s Oppostion!).

This powerful cross-party action group - supported by Open Britain and Fair Vote UK - is working hard on your behalf to make UK democracy fairer by replacing First Past the Post, taking ‘dark money’ out of politics, and countering disinformation in public debate.

The remarkable increase in APPG membership should tell you everything you need to know about the importance of our shared mission and the growing momentum behind it.

But that’s not the only good news I have for you today!

Fresh polling published today shows that a majority of the British public (52%) supports our call for an independent National Commission for Electoral Reform with just a small minority (10%) opposed.

Here’s what the Chair and Vice-Chairs of the APPG had to say:

“We’re now the biggest APPG in Parliament and the public supports our call for a National Commission for Electoral Reform by a margin of five to one. The government should listen and act.”

– Alex Sobel MP, Labour

“There are now MPs across the House who believe what the Lib Dems have argued for years: we need a fair voting system that makes every vote count equally. Most people support the idea of an independent National Commission to find a way forward.”

– Lisa Smart MP, Liberal Democrats

“With our politics so fragmented and Reform on the rise, there’s now a genuine risk that our voting system could give us an extreme government on a small minority of the vote at the next election. First Past the Post is a gamble with Britain’s future.”

– Ellie Chowns MP, Greens


** The APPG In the News:
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Josh Self | Politics.co.uk

Cross-party MPs brand voting system ‘dangerous’ in an era of electoral volatility
READ AND SHARE ([link removed])
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Alex Sobel MP & Lizzi Collinge MP | PoliticsHome

Why Westminster’s biggest parliamentary group is calling for a commission on electoral reform
READ AND SHARE ([link removed])
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Olivia Barber | LeftFootForward

Public trust in politics at new all-time low, with majority backing voting reform, poll finds
READ AND SHARE ([link removed])
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** Massive Momentum
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It has been a hugely rewarding experience to help this APPG grow from nothing to the national force it is today.

The growth of interest in the APPG’s work underscores just how vital the national conversation about our democracy has become. More and more people are starting to see how our dysfunctional democracy gets in the way of fixing everything else that’s wrong with the country: how can we fix anything if we don’t have a proper forum for democratic debate?

Last week’s local elections caused the proverbial penny to drop for many. They showed that First Past the Post just doesn’t work when the electorate refuses to be cajoled into voting for one of the two main parties. The only people served by FPTP’s dysfunction last week were Reform UK - and you don’t need me to tell you what happens if that is repeated at the 2029 general election.

And it’s not just the dangers of First Past the Post that people are waking up to. The same goes for dark money and disinformation too. People are fed up with big money buying political influence, and digital platforms spreading extremist views and conspiracy theories.

We need a system that holds all political parties accountable to the basic principles of democracy, and that forces Farage to fight fair.

Building the biggest APPG in Parliament is undoubtedly a huge achievement. But what really matters is that we now use its size and influence to deliver a democracy that works for everyone.

To that end, I’m pleased to tell you that in the coming months, we’ll be redoubling our efforts to ensure that the energy and influence we have created INSIDE Parliament is matched by an energetic and influential mass movement OUTSIDE Parliament. It is only by taking this two-pronged approach that we will be able to make the government see sense.

The country is crying out for something better. Everyone at Open Britain is fizzing with excitement about what this campaign can achieve now…I hope you are too! We know it won’t be easy. But then, nothing worthwhile ever is.

Here’s to the next - and perhaps most critical - leg of our journey.

All the very best,

Mark Kieran

CEO, Open Britain
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