Hugely encouraging enthusiasm, expertise & optimism from our panel this afternoon Many thanks @thefabians.bsky.social & @labour4pr.bsky.social & to our chair @drsarahyde.bsky.social When MPs return to Parliament, we'll be stepping up the campaign for a National Commission on Electoral Reform

Fascinating reflections from @alexgathomas.bsky.social of @instituteforgovernment.org.uk about lessons from commissions and policy reviews in the past - and how these can apply to a National Commission on Electoral Reform

“Let’s ask the public what is important to them. Let’s ask experts on different systems in different countries. That’s why I think a National Commission on Electoral Reform is the way to go. It brings it back to how our democracy works.” 💬 @lizzicollinge.bsky.social 🌹 #Labour4PR #Lab25

“The Government needs to wake up - and it is starting to wake up. We’ve got an opportunity in this next six months to really push for this change... support is growing in the Parliamentary Labour Party.” 💬 @alexsobel.co.uk, Chair of the @appgfairelections.bsky.social 🌹 #Labour4PR #Lab25

“The APPG for Fair Elections is now the biggest in Parliament and we really want to support the Government in building consensus about the way forward.” 💬 @alexzurclark.bsky.social of @labour4pr.bsky.social speaking at our fringe event with @thefabians.bsky.social and @appgfairelections.bsky.social

🗳️ What’s next in the fight for fair votes? 👏 We were delighted to co-host this fringe event with @libdems4er.bsky.social, discussing how our call for a National Commission on Electoral Reform can help deliver PR 🙏 A huge thanks to our panel and audience

1st Fringe meeting at 1pm: "What’s next in the fight for fair votes?" with LDER’s Sarah Lewis as chair, with @lisasmartmp.bsky.social, @ollyglover.bsky.social MP, Lord @markpackuk.bsky.social, and Joe Sousek of Fair Vote/ Labour for a New Democracy. In partnership w @appgfairelections.bsky.social.

🗳️ "What the APPG for Fair Elections calls for is a National Commission on Electoral Reform... you'd have a process that would build consent for reform" 🎙️ Great to hear @dmk1793.bsky.social of the Constitution Society discussing this proposal with David Runciman's ppfideas.bsky.social podcast

Highlights from the Westminster debate on #DemocracyDay👇 Thank you @rachelblakemp.bsky.social for securing this important debate, and to @richardfoordld.bsky.social @lizzicollinge.bsky.social @jamesmaccleary.bsky.social for making the case for electoral reform.

💡 “This is a clear proposal for the Government to set up a National Commission that could independently ask the big questions about our democracy” 📢 MPs made the case for fair votes & a National Commission on Electoral Reform in the #InternationalDemocracyDay debate 🧵 1/3

How should the government take the next step in addressing the distortions of our political system? MPs in the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Elections have set out one approach this week: a National Commission on Electoral Reform. electoral-reform.org.uk/mps-suggest-...

🚀 We've just kicked off our drop-in session focused on National Commission on Electoral Reform 📍 MPs can find us in Room W3, Westminster Hall, until 16:00 📜 Pick up a hard copy of our ready to go plan to review the voting system: www.fairelections.uk/national-com...

Excited to support the launch of the @appgfairelections.bsky.social Terms of Reference for a National Commission on Electoral Reform. We need a Commission to review hold we hold elections and what system would work best.

"With a record 60% of the public in favour of changing how we elect Parliament, Labour must take action. Our APPG – the largest all-party group – urges the Government to establish a National Commission on Electoral Reform without delay." 📢 APPG for Fair Elections Chair, @alexsobel.co.uk

Make It Count: How Labour Can Deliver Electoral Reform and Rebuild Trust in Politics Monday 29 | 16.15 | Bluecoat | @labour4pr.bsky.social and @appgfairelections.bsky.social

💥 The Government is scrapping First Past the Post for mayoral elections 📢 This week, MPs from across Parliament called for First Past the Post to be scrapped for general elections too 🚀 The Government should launch a National Commission on Electoral Reform to find a way forward

📢 “Isn't it also time for a National Commission on Electoral Reform?” 👏 Great to see Labour MPs like Euan Stainbank, @simonforstroud.bsky.social & Olivia Blake calling for the Government to address First Past the Post for general elections 🌹 We need Proportional Representation #Labour4PR

“If the elections bill lands with no promise of a commission on electoral reform a great many Labour MPs will sign an amendment to include it – that would be a serious rebellion on a fundamental principle. Better by far for Starmer to seize the initiative” ✒️ Polly Toynbee

“A National Commission on Electoral Reform is a ready to go plan to independently review how Parliament is elected, promote a national conversation, and build consensus on a way forward” 🌹 @alexsobel.co.uk, Chair of the @appgfairelections.bsky.social

📜 We're pleased to publish a Terms of Reference for a National Commission on Electoral Reform ⚖️ This is a ready to go plan to independently review how Parliament is elected, promote a national conversation, and build consensus on a way forward 🧵 1/3

🚨 NEW: Cross-party MPs publish ‘ready to go’ blueprint for electoral reform commission — FPTP “threatens to undermine the resilience and stability of our democratic system”, @appgfairelections.bsky.social MPs say — The group is calling on ministers to greenlight its plan Exclusive story 👇

📈 “We are looking at 60% of people saying we should change the voting system... for the first time, we have majority support amongst the supporters of all parties in the country in favour of changing the voting system” 🎓 Professor John Curtice on record support for fair votes

👏 Great to see APPG member @steveracemp.bsky.social calling for a National Commission on Electoral Reform The Government wants to restore trust in politics. In an multi-party age, this must mean addressing our broken First Past the Post voting system

🧹 "We need to clean up the system. Strip out the influence of dark money. And make sure power in this country lies where it should, not with oligarchs, tycoons, and corporate lobbyists, but with the people." ✒️ @mp4stratford.bsky.social

The government says it wants to "rebuild trust in our democracy". This needs to start with giving everyone an equal vote. Thank you to @tomgordonld.bsky.social, Sarah Olney, Chris Law, @alexsobel.co.uk @drscottarthurmp.bsky.social and @shockatadam.bsky.social for raising this in Parliament.

“Many of the Government’s proposals are welcome, but frankly they seem like tinkering round the edges of a grossly unfair voting system. To truly restore trust in our democracy, we need everyone's vote to count equally.” 💬 APPG Vice Chair @elliechowns.bsky.social

“There's much to welcome in the Govt’s proposals, including the reduction of the voting age to 16. But there's a danger that young people’s enthusiasm for our democracy will be dampened because our First Past the Post excludes so many of their voices from our politics.” 💬 @lisasmartmp.bsky.social

💰 "I have real concerns about the foreign influence in our democracy" 💬 @rachelblakemp.bsky.social welcoming Government action to crack down on dark money following into politics from illegitimate sources

⚠️ "Recent polls have shown that the leading party, currently, would win a majority of seats at the next election on less than 30% of the vote" 📢 Chris Law MP calls for the Government to replace First Past the Post with Proportional Representation

"I do want to echo some of the comments around Proportional Representation... will the Minister keep an open mind, look at other strong democracies around the world, and see how they've been able to use PR to strengthen their democracy" 🌹 @drscottarthurmp.bsky.social #Labour4PR

🏦 "Will the Minister, consider reviewing - because of the flawed nature of First Past the Post - the elections to this place?" 🪑 This morning, our Chair @alexsobel.co.uk led calls from across the House for the Government to address Westminster's broken voting system

💥 The Government has just published its proposals for electoral reforms 💬 Statement from our Chair, @alexsobel.co.uk: "Today’s proposals are a welcome step towards cleaner, fairer and more trusted elections, but one critical issue remains unresolved: the voting system itself."

BREAKING: The Speaker has granted an Urgent Question on the Government's 'Strategy for Elections' MPs will have the opportunity to ask the Minister about their proposals for democratic reform, due to be published today, in the coming minutes...

These are welcome first steps to get a grip on money in politics: 💵 A crackdown on foreign donations & shell companies 💷 Enhanced checks on political donations ⚖️ A strengthened regulator Next, the Government should bring in donation limits

“If we want to clean up politics, we must root out the dark money, hidden money and foreign money. That means banning cryptocurrency donations, donations from unincorporated associations and donations financed by foreign profits.” www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

⚠️ "Mayors serve many millions of people and manage multi-million pound budgets, yet can be elected by just a fraction of the vote" 💯 Angela Rayner is right that politicians should not be elected to important offices by First Past the Post ⚖ The same is true of MPs

With the government planning an #ElectionsBill, we've been asking experts for their bold ideas to safeguard our democracy. In our latest paper former @electoralcommission.org.uk chief exec Bob Posner calls for 2️⃣ simple changes to the law to stop foreign donations being funneled through UK companies.

📢 “The APPG is calling for a ‘National Commission’ to "get to grips with our broken voting system" and propose an alternative. The parliamentary group has 157 members in Parliament” 📰 Great coverage of Government plans to scrap First Past the Post for mayors and police & crime commissioners

"It’s hugely welcome that the Govt has listened to Labour MPs & mayors on this issue... I hope they will similarly embrace a discussion about making our general elections fair, representative & fit for the 21st century" 🌹 @andrewranger-mp.bsky.social on plans to scrap First Past the Post for mayors

“By committing to changing this, the Government has wisely taken a step in the right direction - but First Past the Post is just as flawed when it comes to general elections." 💬 @alexsobel.co.uk on plans to scrap First Past the Post for mayor and police & crime commissioner elections

💥 BREAKING: the Government's English Devolution and Community Empowerment bill will scrap the First Past the Post voting system for mayor and police & crime commissioner elections 👏 This is hugely welcome recognition that First Past the Post is not fit for purpose 🧵...

🚨 “Low turnout and an unfair voting system: UK elections ranked in the bottom half of countries in Europe” @electoralintegrity.bsky.social report recommends action, including: 🗳️ Reforming the voting system 🙋 Automatic voter registration 📰 Combatting disinformation

"...the appetite for a change in the voting system that delivered Labour their commanding majority has never been higher. Turning the tide on these issues will be no mean feat, but one which Labour will need to tackle directly in their return to office." ✍️ Alex Scholes, @natcen.bsky.social

“Instead of leaving it to an argument behind closed doors... wouldn’t it be nice to have a calm national debate about the kind of democracy we want?” writes @peterkellner.bsky.social 🎯 Exactly why our APPG is calling for a National Commission on Electoral Reform

🎙️ “I could hear, out there, a chorus of people saying 'and also proportional representation!'... I'm pretty sold on this urgency of needing electoral reform” 💯 @rafaelbehr.bsky.social is right: electoral reform is urgent - & public support for a fair voting system is now at an all time high

"This isn’t a side issue — it goes to the heart of the public’s faith in democracy. When millions of people feel their voices haven’t been heard it’s no surprise trust in politics continues to decline." ✍️ APPG Vice Chair @elliechowns.bsky.social

🆕 Loopholes in our existing election laws leave the next UK general election at serious risk from malign actors. The government must use the forthcoming Elections Bill to fill these gaps in our defences and safeguard our democracy. Read our latest briefing on the risks and potential solutions.

"Let's work together to make votes matter and get electoral reform." @ollyglover.bsky.social comments on the latest British Social Attitudes survey results, published today. 👇 Support for a fairer voting system is higher than ever. It's time for the government to listen.

💥 At 60%, support for electoral reform is the highest it's ever been 📊 A majority of supporters of each of the parties - including Conservatives - support change ⚠️ Those who are most mistrustful of government are more likely to support voting system change @natcen.bsky.social's Alex Scholes

🚀 Public support for electoral reform is the highest it's been since records began 💥 60% now want to change to a fair, proportional voting system... including a majority of supporters of every party 🌹 Chair of @appgfairelections.bsky.social, Labour MP @alexsobel.co.uk, welcomes the news 🧵 1/3