Another round of local elections, another record low turnout. Despite the significance of these votes — which decided everything from who runs local services to who became mayors — most people stayed home. In the West Midlands, turnout in the mayoral race dropped below 30% with just 7.5% of people voting for the winning candidate. It’s hard to call that a mandate.
Voter apathy isn’t apolitical. It’s a symptom of a system that people increasingly feel doesn’t listen to them — and they’re not wrong. Under First Past the Post (FPTP), many votes simply don’t count. In safe seats, outcomes are predetermined. In marginal ones, minor swings can bring wild results. Whether it’s local or general elections, power too often ends up in the hands of those backed by only a minority of the electorate.
Meanwhile, the political landscape is shifting fast. Reform UK made significant gains in council elections, and Nigel Farage — long a disruptor in British politics — declared his ongoing support for electoral reform. In an interview this week, Farage publicly backed Alternative Vote (AV), describing it as “an obvious way forward.” Leaders from across the political spectrum are calling out the deep unfairness of our electoral system. Carla Denyer, one of the Green Co-Leaders, has said ‘it should be a basic democratic principle that every vote matters equally’.
And yet, the silence from Labour leadership is palpable.
Sir Keir Starmer has so far refused to embrace electoral reform, despite overwhelming support for Proportional Representation (PR) within his own party. Labour members, affiliated trade unions, and a clear majority of Labour voters all back PR. Even many new Labour MPs — elected in 2024 — support it, recognising that FPTP no longer delivers strong or stable government.
Sir Keir Starmer has already shown a willingness to make bold and unexpected policy decisions, recognising the need to govern not just for short-term advantage, but for the long-term health of the country. By leading the charge for electoral reform, he has the opportunity to secure a lasting and positive legacy. Labour has a proud history of strengthening democracy — most notably, the creation of devolved assemblies in Wales and Scotland under Tony Blair. That move required vision and a willingness to share power. It carried risks, but it was the right decision for a more inclusive and representative political system. Now, it’s time for the next step.
The reality is this: Britain is a multi-party country trapped in a two-party voting system. The 2025 local elections confirmed that again. Fragmented results, unrepresentative outcomes, and low turnouts aren’t one-offs — they’re structural.
If Labour is serious about rebuilding trust in politics, it cannot continue to duck the question of how we vote. The Prime Minister has the chance to modernise British democracy, to ensure that every vote counts, and to bring in a system that matches our increasingly diverse political reality.
It’s time to bite the bullet. Electoral reform isn’t a fringe issue — it’s the foundation of a functioning democracy.
By Emma Harrison, Make Votes Matter CEO
