As Liberal Democrats, electoral reform is in our DNA. That's why we welcome the ongoing efforts of our ally organisations such as theElectoral Reform Society,Make Votes Matter, andUnlock Democracy. After all, we know that we cannot bring about the change we want to see by acting alone.
As Lib Dem members our involvement in cross-party campaign efforts is all to the good. I encourage any who are not yet active in these groups to sign up today! But I believe that we also need to campaign for electoral reformas Liberal Democrats.Why?
On 12th October 2021 Liberal Democrats for Electoral Reform held a panel event about why equal votes and diversity go hand-in-hand. The online event featured Cllr Hina Bokhari AM and Lord Paul Tyler (bios below). It included a discussion on key questions like "will equal votes be likely to improve the diversity of representation in Parliament?", "what can we do as equal votes campaigners to reach out to new, diverse communities?" and "where next for the campaign?".
Since they started 20 years ago, all elections for Mayors and Police Commissioners have used the Supplementary Vote, which includes a runoff round between the top two contenders. It's not the best system, but it does ensure that the winner has to have a real majority.
This week the Conservative Government has slipped an extra section into their deplorable Elections Bill, aimed at changing all such elections to FPTP. The Telegraph had the brazen dishonesty to describe this as an improvement - `not letting losers win'.
We are excited to announce that Liberal Democrats for Electoral Reform has a new President - Wendy Chamberlain, our MP for North East Fife.
Since entering Parliament in 2019, Wendy has made her mark as an articulate, vivid advocate of electoral reform. Through most of 2020, as our Political and Constitutional Reform front bench spokesperson, she led the campaign both inside and outside Parliament. Last June, she initiated an adjournment debate on the need for reform; and in August she urged party members to join a Make Votes Matter (MVM) nationwide 'virtual' Action Day, which saw hundreds of Liberal Democrats get involved.
A strong believer in linking reform to improving peoples' everyday lives, also last June, Wendy spoke alongside Klina Jordan of MVM at a Green Liberal Democrats' conference session on Electoral Reform and the Environment. In September, she led our virtual fringe meeting, along with the Electoral Reform Society, Make Votes Matter and Unite to Reform.
Now our Parliamentary Chief Whip and Work and Pensions spokesperson, Wendy has maintained her commitment to our cause. In February, she became a Vice Chair of the newly-formed All Party Parliamentary Group on Electoral Reform. (Alistair Carmichael, Wera Hobhouse and Lord Paul Tyler are also APPG members). Wendy is also a member of the APPG on Deliberative Democracy.
Wendy said: 'In an era of increasing identity politics, place has increasing importance to many. With Covid-19, however, the straining of centralised decision making at Westminster, and better recognition of the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, could mean electoral reform's time has come. It's increasingly clear that the fundamental change required to ensure the future of the UK and a representative democracy starts with electoral reform.'
Wendy has already agreed to host a virtual meeting on Zoom for all LDER members and supporters, setting our the goals as she sees them and of course taking questions and comments. We'll be in touch again shortly with details.
Don't forget:
Make Votes Matter 'Lobby Your MP' Action Day - March 12; makevotesmatter.org.uk/lobby
You can also attend a pre-lobby briefing session with Wendy Chamberlain on March 11: click here for more.
