APPG for Fair Elections

All Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Elections

Chair: @alexsobel

Secretariat: @MakeVotesMatter & @UnlockDemocracy

[Emma 🧡 @Emma_Campaigner]

Listening to the indefatigable Sergei Cristo talking about the very real risk of Russian interference in UK politics @FairElectionsUK

[APPG for Fair Elections @FairElectionsUK]

During yesterday's debate on the Representation of the People Bill, our Vice-Chair @EllieChowns laid out our three priorities to fix our democracy:

✅ Stop the harmful influence of dark and big money
✅ Tackle disinformation
✅ Implement a voting system in which all votes matter

[Make Votes Matter @MakeVotesMatter]

We agree that changing the voting system requires a national conversation - one involving the public.

That's why we're calling on Andy Burnham to set up a National Commission on Electoral Reform - to design a better, proportional voting system that's fit for modern Britain.

[Make Votes Matter @MakeVotesMatter]

💥💥💥"The government's priority is a politics that works for all people in all places - not some people in some places.

The Prime Minister remains committed to electoral reform."

Great to hear this from Democracy Minister @FloEshalomi 💯

But now it's time for action 👇🧵

[APPG for Fair Elections @FairElectionsUK]

🚨A system that allows one party to take full power on a small fraction of the vote is also one that's easier to manipulate.

The consequences could be incredibly dangerous.

💬 @alexsobel on why reforming the voting system and curbing the influence of big money go hand in hand:

[APPG for Fair Elections @FairElectionsUK]

Another area where we believe the Bill should be stronger is on curbing the influence of big money.

83% of people in the UK believe wealthy individuals use donations to influence the government in their own personal interests.

It's time to consider a cap on political donations.

[APPG for Fair Elections @FairElectionsUK]

Today is the third reading of the Representation of the People Bill.

The biggest amendment to the bill - signed by over 170 MPs from across the House - calls for a National Commission on Electoral Reform.

Our voting system needs an urgent review. We hope the government listens.

[The Observer @ObserverUK]

Neil Kinnock: First past the post is no longer fit for purpose. Burnham must lead the way https://t.co/NmeyQc1hev

[PoliticsHome @politicshome]

Analysis shows that proportional representation produces more stable and trusted governments than those produced by FPTP

At the same time, more and more people are being shut out from the UK's increasingly unfair and disproportionate electoral system

The time has come for electoral reform, writes Labour MP @RNBlake
https://t.co/RUZ4mIbm8F

[APPG for Fair Elections @FairElectionsUK]

📢 The Representation of the People Bill is back in Parliament next week.

📝 By far the most-backed amendment is the one calling for a review of the UK's voting system, tabled by @alexsobel.

📻 @mike_reader made the case for it on @BBCr4today this morning 👇

[APPG for Fair Elections @FairElectionsUK]

“Burnham, a longtime advocate of electoral reform, will be asked to support the new commission into ditching First Past the Post in his first 100 days as Prime Minister."

🗯️ “Andy remains strongly committed to electoral reform"

@andyburnham @guardian
https://t.co/6KHAtaaD80

[APPG for Fair Elections @FairElectionsUK]

@ConUnit_UCL @alanjrenwick

[APPG for Fair Elections @FairElectionsUK]

The Constitution Unit has a new report with 21 recommendations for safeguarding UK democracy, including:

🔍 How a review of the electoral system should work
💰 A donations cap for political parties
🤖 Tackling misinformation and AI deepfakes at elections

https://t.co/44BsA8AgTw

[APPG for Fair Elections @FairElectionsUK]

"This is the most supported amendment in this Parliament by a distance."

Our Chair @alexsobel spoke to @HansardSociety's podcast about ways to strengthen the Representation of the People Bill, including his amendment on electoral reform.

🎧 Full episode: https://t.co/t39GSLrjso

[Make Votes Matter @MakeVotesMatter]

💥 Philip Rycroft - the author of the Rycroft Review into countering foreign financial interference - made a passionate case for electoral reform at @ConUnit_UCL yesterday:

"We as a country need to think very seriously about this because there’s an awful lot of folk... whose vote essentially leads to no effective representation." 👇

[Make Votes Matter @MakeVotesMatter]

"What principle could be more basic in a democracy than the principle that everybody's vote counts equally?"

Today in Parliament, there was a debate about Britain's voting system. Here's just a few highlights.

Thank you to @EllieChowns @LisaSmartMP @Euan4Falkirk @sarahjolney1 and the many other MPs who spoke out for change!

[APPG for Fair Elections @FairElectionsUK]

❗️More than 140 MPs now back @alexsobel's amendment for a National Commission on Electoral Reform.

📢 Yesterday in Parliament, MPs made the case for it during a debate about the future of the UK's voting system.

👉 Full list of signatories: https://t.co/nY78Ea3bqx

[megan kenyon @meganekenyon]

New: 20 per cent of the Parliamentary Labour Party (81 MPs) have signed an amendment to the Representation of the People Bill calling for a national commission on electoral reform. Latest signers include Polly Billington, Justin Madders and Zubir Ahmed.

140 MPs cross-party have now signed chair of the APPG for Fair Elections, Alex Sobel's amendment.

(Should be noted that 81 MPs is the nomination threshold needed for Labour MPs to get on the leadership ballot!)

[APPG for Fair Elections @FairElectionsUK]

🚀134 MPs have now signed @alexsobel’s NC31 amendment calling for a National Commission on Electoral Reform.

📊The amendment is now backed by more than 1/5 of the Commons.

And by MPs from 7 parties.

It’s time to address the broken First Past the Post voting system.

Full list of signatories 👇
https://t.co/VTXWv7igKO

[APPG for Fair Elections @FairElectionsUK]

✍️ 111 MPs have already signed @alexsobel's amendment to the Representation of the People Bill, calling for a National Commission on Electoral Reform.

❗️This makes it the most-backed amendment to the Bill.

https://t.co/nY78Ea3bqx