New year, same old politics?

January 7, 2026

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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.

Not in 2026.

If you care about democracy in the UK, 2026 should already be circled in your diary.

This year will see elections across Scotland and Wales, dozens of local elections in England, and – just as significantly – dozens more local elections quietly postponed. At the same time, long-promised reforms of our democracy may finally reach Parliament.

Taken together, these changes will shape not just who governs, but how power is exercised in the UK for years to come.

The question we face is stark: do we strengthen democracy, or allow it to continue drifting out of reach of the people it is meant to serve? At Make Votes Matter, we believe that fair votes are the foundation of a fair society. And in 2026, the fight to ensure every vote counts will be more urgent and more winnable, than at any point in a generation.

A once-in-a-generation chance to fix the system

The government is expected to introduce a wide-ranging Elections and Democracy Bill – likely in February / March. If done properly, it could expand the franchise by giving 16- and 17-year-olds the vote, improve voter registration, and remove barriers that prevent millions of people from participating in elections.

These changes matter. But on their own, they are not enough.

Because even the most inclusive franchise in the world cannot fix a system where millions of votes are ignored, where parties can win power on a minority of the vote, and where safe seats leave vast swathes of the country politically invisible.

Without proportional representation, political disengagement and disillusionment will continue to grow. Trust in politics will continue to fall. And voters will continue to be told that the problem is them rather than the system.

That’s why Make Votes Matter will be fighting relentlessly to secure PR as part of any serious democratic reform. Not as an abstract constitutional tweak, but as a practical, proven way to ensure Parliament actually reflects the country it governs. We’ll be regularly updating our subscribers on political developments – if you’re not signed up, join today.

Wales shows what real reform looks like

While Westminster debates whether change is possible, Wales is getting on with it.

On 7 May 2026, voters will elect Members of the Senedd using a new more proportional voting system for the first time. Voters will cast a single vote for a party or independent candidate, with seats allocated using the D’Hondt method to closely match vote share.

In practice, that means this: if a party wins half the vote, it wins roughly half the seats. If an independent candidate earns enough support, they can win too. Every vote has weight.

Alongside this, the Senedd itself will expand from 60 to 96 Members, elected across 16 constituencies, each returning six representatives. The voting age will be lowered to 16, and candidates will be required to live in Wales – grounding Welsh democracy more firmly in Welsh communities (sorry, Nigel Farage).

These reforms recognise a simple reality: the Senedd now controls billions of pounds of public spending and has responsibility for vital services like health, education and transport. Stronger powers demand stronger democratic scrutiny.

Wales is not just reforming its electoral system, it is renewing trust in democracy itself. And it is offering a powerful example of what can be achieved when politicians accept that democracy works best when it reflects the people.

Scotland and the limits of winner-takes-all politics

In Scotland, the Holyrood election is already being framed as a verdict on Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership, with polls suggesting the SNP’s two-decade dominance may finally be under real threat.

Scotland’s experience also offers an important lesson. Proportional representation has helped create a Parliament that reflects the country’s political diversity, encourages compromise, and prevents sudden lurches in power based on small shifts in vote share.

As Westminster once again looks to Scotland as the key to winning power nationally, the irony is clear: the UK’s most pluralistic electoral system exists everywhere except the place where it matters most, Westminster itself.

Local democracy under quiet threat

Yet while some parts of the UK move forward, others risk being left behind.

As the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill progresses – reintroducing the Supplementary Vote for mayoral elections – 63 local elections in 2026 could be postponed. The government argues this is necessary to simplify local government structures by replacing two-tier councils with new unitary authorities. While some agree with postponements – parlicularly if it allows for a more proportional system to be implemented- others are concerned citing that democracy is not an administrative inconvenience, rather decisions about local services, development, and funding should be shaped by the people who live with their consequences.

We’ll keep an eye on developments, the the meantime, make sure you get a say in elections by ensuring you are registered to vote and you have ID, if you don’t have an accepted form of identification, you can get one for free through your local authority.

Why Make Votes Matter exists

Across the UK, the pattern is becoming clear.

Where voting systems are fair, people are represented.
Where elections are delayed or distorted, power drifts upwards.
Where votes count, democracy thrives.

That is why Make Votes Matter exists, and why 2026 matters so much.

This is not about party advantage or short-term gain. It is about whether our political system is fit for the challenges we face from the cost of living and climate change to public services and constitutional reform.

PR is not a silver bullet. But without it, meaningful democratic renewal will always be out of reach.

In 2026, voters across the UK will be asked to put their faith in democracy once again. Our job is to make sure that faith is rewarded and that every vote truly matters.

By Emma Harrison, Make Votes Matter CEO.

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