A historic cross-party consensus on Proportional Representation
Signed by political parties, MPs and campaign organisations from across the political spectrum, this agreement sets out the principles that we believe a new voting system must deliver, and calls for a citizen-led, deliberative process to choose a new system.
+ Proportionality
"Good systems ensure that seats closely match votes, with parliamentary representation at least as proportional as the Scottish Parliament."
+ Representation
"Good systems ensure MPs and governments represent the views of the voters."
+ Equal votes
"Good systems ensure the value of individual votes is not distorted by factors such as geography, and minimise the need for tactical voting."
+ Local links
"Good systems maintain links between MPs and specific geographic areas."
+ Diversity
"Good systems encourage the election of parliaments reflecting the population."
+ Voter choice
"Good systems allow voters a wide choice of parties, and allow voters to express preferences for people rather than just parties. Any lists used must be democratically determined."
+ Accountability
"Good systems ensure MPs and governments are accountable to the voters."
+ Balance of stability and flexibility
"Good systems engender stable, flexible government that has the ability to compromise."
+ Sustainability and adaptability
"Good systems are able to respond and adapt to changing needs without requiring frequent or fundamental change."
+ Voting simplicity
"Good systems and ballot papers are easy for voters to understand and use."
Parliamentary Parties
And MPs from…
+ Other signatory parties and organisations...
- Common Weal
- Compass
- Conservative Action for Electoral Reform
- Federalist Party
- Forum for the Future
- Get PR Done!
- Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust
- Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform
- Make Votes Count In West Sussex
- Make Votes Matter - many groups around the UK
- Peter Tatchell Foundation
- Radical Party
- Represent
- Sheffield for Democracy
- Social Democratic Party
- Something New
- The Alternative
- True and Fair
- Unlock Democracy
- Volt UK
- Women's Equality Party
- Yorkshire Party
- Young People's Party
+ Signed in a personal capacity...
- Adam Ramsay, Co-Editor, OpenDemocracy
- Avril Coelho, Richmond Safer Neighbourhood Board Business Representative
- Ben Heald, Chair of Sift
- Professor David Soskice, LSE
- David Wheeler, Footballer, Portsmouth Football Club
- Edward Saperia, Dean of Newspeak House
- Ella Saltmarshe, Co-founder, SHEvotes
- George Monbiot, Guardian columnist and author
- Helen Pankhurst, activist and writer
- Huw Irranca-Davies AM, Labour Party
- Iosif Kovras, Senior Lecturer, City University of London
- Lord Jeff Rooker, Labour Party
- Mary Honeyball, former Labour MEP
- Professor Leophytos Loizides, University of Kent
- Professor Rory Fitzgerald, Director of the European Social Survey at City University London
- Rory Bremner, impressionist and comedian
- Roslyn Fuller, Director, Solonian Democracy Institute
- Rupert Read, Chair, Green House
- Yanis Varoufakis, former Finance Minister of Greece
- Zoe Williams, journalist, columnist and author, Guardian
“The best voting system for the UK would ideally be determined by citizens through an evidence-based, deliberative process.”
The signatories believe the best way to choose a new voting system for the UK is through a citizen-led, deliberative process - such as a citizens’ assembly.
A citizens’ assembly is a large group of ordinary people selected in a similar way to a jury, but with care taken to ensure it is representative of the population at large. They are given the opportunity to hear from and cross-examine experts, to deliberate and reach recommendations.
Internationally, citizens’ assemblies have been used successfully to make sensible and popular recommendations on a host of complex and controversial issues. As an example, the video below explains how a recent citizens’ assembly successfully broke the longstanding deadlock over reproductive rights in Ireland.
Alternatively, a broader constitutional convention could serve the same purpose, provided it: 1) has a specific focus on electoral reform; 2) has a short, fixed time-frame for recommending a new voting system within the next parliament; and, 3) is genuinely led by citizens rather than experts, politicians or party appointees.
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