The following resolution was passed at the All Members Meeting held on July 30, 2025.
Motion on proportional representation
In its submission to the 2025 National Policy Forum on strengthening democracy, this CLP (as reconstituted) affirmed its support for proportional representation.
As a first step, we welcome the government’s recent announcement that the First Past the Post (FPTP) voting system used for electing mayors in England and police, crime (and fire) commissioners in England & Wales will be changed to a proportional vote system. This CLP calls on the government to adopt a fully ranked preferential voting system.
However we believe there is a pressing need to go further and faster on electoral reform. The British Social Attitudes Survey (June 2025) found that:
- ‘Just 12%(of respondents) trust governments to put the interests of a nation above those of their own party just about always or most of the time – a record low
- A record 60% are in favour of changing the electoral system ‘to allow smaller parties to get a fairer share of MP’s, rather than keeping the current system (36%)
- This change is backed by a majority of supporters of all parties and by those with low levels of trust and confidence in government.’
Accordingly, this CLP agrees to add its voice to those MPs and others within the Labour Party who are calling for a National Commission for Electoral Reform to carry out a review and recommend a fair and democratic replacement to FPTP, prior to the next general election.