A Commons Fit for the Future

February 14, 2025

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Over the past few hundred years, our society and democracy have developed and changed beyond recognition. However, our voting system has failed to keep pace. We believe that First Past the Post has no place in a modern democracy, and should be replaced by a system of Proportional Representation. If you agree, sign the petition. If you want to know why, read on:

Minority rule

The idea of a minority ruling over the majority goes against our most basic ideas about democracy. But with First Past the Post, it's the norm. For about 90% of the time since 1935 we've had single-party 'majority' governments, but not one of them had the support of a majority of voters. The Conservatives currently hold a majority of seats with just 43.6% of the votes. In the 2019 election they gained an extra 48 seats despite an increase of only 1.2% of the vote share. Almost since the first general election, politicians who most of us didn't vote for and don't agree with have had the power to govern the UK however they like.

Proportional Representation means majority rule, not minority rule. With PR, any government must have a majority of votes behind it - so in order to govern, a party needs to either work collaboratively with other parties, or persuade most of us to vote for it.

Demand Real Democracy

The idea of a minority ruling over the majority goes against our most basic ideas about democracy. But with First Past the Post, it’s the norm. For about 90% of the time since 1935 we’ve had single-party ‘majority’ governments, but not one of them had the support of a majority of voters. The Conservatives currently hold a majority of seats with just 43.6% of the votes. In the 2019 election they gained an extra 48 seats despite an increase of only 1.2% of the vote share. Almost since the first general election, politicians who most of us didn’t vote for and don’t agree with have had the power to govern the UK however they like.The idea of a minority ruling over the majority goes against our most basic ideas about democracy. But with First Past the Post, it’s the norm. For about 90% of the time since 1935 we’ve had single-party ‘majority’ governments, but not one of them had the support of a majority of voters. The Conservatives currently hold a majority of seats with just 43.6% of the votes. In the 2019 election they gained an extra 48 seats despite an increase of only 1.2% of the vote share. Almost since the first general election, politicians who most of us didn’t vote for and don’t agree with have had the power to govern the UK however they like.The idea of a minority ruling over the majority goes against our most basic ideas about democracy. But with First Past the Post, it’s the norm. For about 90% of the time since 1935 we’ve had single-party ‘majority’ governments, but not one of them had the support of a majority of voters. The Conservatives currently hold a majority of seats with just 43.6% of the votes. In the 2019 election they gained an extra 48 seats despite an increase of only 1.2% of the vote share. Almost since the first general election, politicians who most of us didn’t vote for and don’t agree with have had the power to govern the UK however they like.The idea of a minority ruling over the majority goes against our most basic ideas about democracy. But with First Past the Post, it’s the norm. For about 90% of the time since 1935 we’ve had single-party ‘majority’ governments, but not one of them had the support of a majority of voters. The Conservatives currently hold a majority of seats with just 43.6% of the votes. In the 2019 election they gained an extra 48 seats despite an increase of only 1.2% of the vote share. Almost since the first general election, politicians who most of us didn’t vote for and don’t agree with have had the power to govern the UK however they like.The idea of a minority ruling over the majority goes against our most basic ideas about democracy. But with First Past the Post, it’s the norm. For about 90% of the time since 1935 we’ve had single-party ‘majority’ governments, but not one of them had the support of a majority of voters. The Conservatives currently hold a majority of seats with just 43.6% of the votes. In the 2019 election they gained an extra 48 seats despite an increase of only 1.2% of the vote share. Almost since the first general election, politicians who most of us didn’t vote for and don’t agree with have had the power to govern the UK however they like.The idea of a minority ruling over the majority goes against our most basic ideas about democracy. But with First Past the Post, it’s the norm. For about 90% of the time since 1935 we’ve had single-party ‘majority’ governments, but not one of them had the support of a majority of voters. The Conservatives currently hold a majority of seats with just 43.6% of the votes. In the 2019 election they gained an extra 48 seats despite an increase of only 1.2% of the vote share. Almost since the first general election, politicians who most of us didn’t vote for and don’t agree with have had the power to govern the UK however they like.

This week, Make Votes Matter’s submission to the House of Commons Modernisation Committee was published. We made the case that the House of Commons must follow the example of the UK’s modern devolved institutions and international peers by adopting Proportional Representation for its elections.

The Urgency of Reform

The need for this debate is urgent. We are still grappling with the consequences of the most disproportional election result in UK history, which also ranks among the most unrepresentative anywhere in the world. A staggering 58% of voters—millions of people—cast their ballots only to find that their vote had no impact on the outcome. They did not get the representative they voted for. They could have stayed at home.

This disenfranchisement at the ballot box is not inevitable. All of the UK’s devolved administrations were established with their elections using Proportional Representation, as are the systems used by most of our European peers. These systems ensure that fewer votes are wasted and that elections produce fairer, more representative outcomes. In the UK, however, the norm has become the acceptance of a system that systematically disenfranchises the majority of the electorate, and dissuades millions from participating in the first place.

Voter Disengagement: A Vote of No Confidence

The most telling sign of discontent with the current system is the number of people who choose not to vote at all. Millions of eligible voters have become so disillusioned with the political process that they feel their participation would make no difference. And who can blame them?

Under First Past the Post, political parties concentrate on winning the votes of a small number of swing voters in a handful of constituencies. As a result, they tailor their policies, messaging, and resources to the preferences of voters in geographically concentrated areas. Meanwhile, large swathes of the country are ignored, political “graveyards” where voters are left out of the conversation altogether.

This lack of attention to broad public sentiment contributes to declining voter turnout and a growing disillusionment with politics. The public feels increasingly disconnected from a system that seems to represent only a small fraction of the population. Is it any wonder that this House of Commons is more out of touch with public opinion than ever before?

A Crisis of Trust

The health of our political institutions should be measured by their ability to build trust with the public. A system that disenfranchises voters and leaves large segments of society unrepresented does the opposite. In 2024, the winning candidate won less than half of the vote in over 85% of parliamentary seats, leaving most voters in the constituency unrepresented —a record level of disproportionality. This stark imbalance has contributed to a crisis of trust in our politics.

Most political parties now agree that this decline in trust is a major issue that must be addressed urgently. Keir Starmer has made restoring trust in politics one of his government’s central priorities. In fact, the Labour Party National Policy Forum has acknowledged that First Past the Post contributes to the disillusionment and alienation many people feel towards politics.

The Way Forward

Along with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Fair Elections, Make Votes Matter is calling for the establishment of a National Commission for Electoral Reform. This Commission would focus on creating a fairer, more democratic voting system for the UK—one where every vote counts equally.

The Commission must be independent, authoritative, and highly representative, involving both citizens and experts. It would assess the merits of various voting systems, drawing insights from the UK’s devolved administrations and other democracies. The goal would be to recommend a system that ensures fairer representation, strengthens public trust, and produces a Parliament that better reflects the will of the people.

Modernisation is about ensuring institutions serve the people they represent. The UK’s voting system is failing—distorting political outcomes, undermining trust, and alienating voters. Our peer nations that use PR enjoy greater political stability, higher levels of public confidence, and a more engaged electorate.

If the UK is to truly modernise, it must embrace the fundamental principle that every vote should count equally. Establishing a National Commission to explore and implement electoral reform is the logical next step. The Mother of Parliaments must evolve to ensure real voice, choice, and representation for all citizens. It is time for a House of Commons fit for the future.You can find our submission to the committee here: Modernisation Committee – Written evidence – Committees – UK Parliament

Written by Alberto Smith

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