Electoral Reform Society

📣 "We no longer live in a two-party system, and if we continue to have an electoral system that doesn't acknowledge that fact, we will have, as Professor @robfordmancs.bsky.social says, elections that lead to even more chaotic and unpredictable results."

👇 @chriscurtis94.bsky.social

The Representation of the People Bill moves democracy forward – but more progress is needed At the Electoral Reform Society, we believe democracy is never a finished project.Something so hard won requires constant attention, updating and improvement if it is to remain healthy.

The Representation of the People Bill had its second reaching this week, and MPs from across the House recognised the stakes for the health of our democracy. electoral-reform.org.uk/the-represen...

The stars are aligning for proportional representation If it's ever going to happen, now is the time

The stars are aligning for proportional representation takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/the-stars-...

How a 1940 electoral system reform in Cambridge made its 2025 housing breakthrough possible This is more than just a housing “win.” It’s a triumph for Cambridge’s unique brand of representative democracy—one that balances citywide priorities with fair representation for diverse communities.

You are forgiven for pinching the graphic! We can also give you the STV X YIMBY crossover argument you have been waiting for commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/how-...

Why Holyrood’s voting system still favours larger parties Everyone knows that First Past the Post favours the largest party. At the last Westminster election, Labour managed to turn 34% of the vote into 63% of parliament – a full 29 percentag

No electoral arrangement is perfect, and if there are improvements to be made, we should not be afraid to make them.

Latest UK polling: As voters spread their support, our voting system can’t keep up Where elections often used to be a two-horse race between Labour and the Conservatives, voters are now spreading their support across an increasingly crowded field – and our voting sys

Our Senior Research Officer, Ian, has taken a look at the latest polling – which paints a vivid picture of a country whose political allegiances have shifted dramatically.
electoral-reform.org.uk/latest-uk-po...

Reflections & Recommendations Webinar – Dunfermline New City Assembly Dunfermline New City Assembly

ERS Scotland has been working on a citizens' assembly in Dunfermline over the last few months, which is about to publish its recommendations. There is a webinar next week from the Dunfermline New City Assembly team where you can find out what happened. dunfermlineassembly.org/assembly-upd...

This week, MPs have been calling for the government to include making parliament representative of how we vote, as part of the Representation of the People Bill. This is a real opportunity for the government to make a difference.

This isn't a setting our end, but something you control in your Bluesky account settings under 'Content and Media', as shown in this screenshot.

Westminster’s dirty secret – what lobbying in Britain looks like and how we clean it up Lobbying is a word that can be used to describe all manner of sins in Westminster. It has hit the headlines again courtesy of Peter Mandelson and his relationship to convicted paedophile

The Epstein Files gave a rare insight into how lobbying often operates in Westminster, conducted through personal relationships with no formal channels.

This week, MPs have been calling for a National Commission to build a consensus on a new voting system for Westminster through broad public consultation, deliberation and expert evidence gathering.

As the Representation of the People Bill has been working through parliament, MPs have been calling on the government to make the bill live up to its name and give us a parliament that is representative of how we voted.

⚖️ "It's the principled thing to do, to ensure every vote counts equally."

💬 Our Vice-Chair @elliechowns.bsky.social also used the Second Reading of the Representation of the People Bill to call for electoral reform.

💯 Most of the public agree: our voting system urgently needs an update.

In 2022, the previous government decided that the Electoral Commission, which polices fair play in elections, had to consider the priorities of the politicians it oversees.

So it's fantastic news that last night the current government announced they will be restoring their independence.

Missing, in-action: What happened to the bill to remove the Hereditary Peers? It is not often we get to indulge in the mystery genre here at the ERS; however, this blog will delve into the curious incident of the missing Hereditary Peers bill. The bill, a straight

The UK’s second chamber shouldn’t be determined by birthright. Our latest blog dives into the curious case of a lost Lords reform bill — and why democracy demands better.

May 2026 elections: Weekend voting to be piloted in the UK Findings from the experiment will be published later this year and inform future electoral reform.

Voting on a Thursday, when many people are at work, has some pretty obvious downsides – so it's great to see the government trialling early voting in Tunbridge Wells, Cambridge, and North Hertfordshire in the coming elections. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Lib Dem Lisa Smart MP in last night's democracy bill debate: "Unlimited donations mean unlimited influence. They corrode public trust and distort political priorities. Until we cap donations, we will continue to have a democracy that is for sale." (there's still no plan for a cap on donations)

Labour must not bind Britain's fate to the failing electoral system - Politics.co.uk It’s fair to say that British democracy is in ill health. Labour has inherited rock bottom public trust in politics and a state wracked by austerity. We are working to show that government can…

Faced with an electoral system that is turning British elections into a gamble with the country’s future, MPs are calling for a National Commission on Electoral Reform to examine the electoral system and recommend a modern alternative.

The real lesson to take from Gorton and Denton is for the future of UK democracy | Institute for Government Westminster is dangerously underprepared for a multi-party future.

"If casting a vote starts to feel more like participating in a lottery than making a positive and principled decision, then voters are going to become ever more frustrated." First Past the Post can't handle multi-party politics. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gort...

Ahead of the next reading of the Representation of the People Bill, ERS has been briefing MPs with evidence on how to make our democracy more representative – from voting rights to participation and accountability. buff.ly/uNfmU3J

Representation of the People Bill This Representation of the People Bill is a major step forward for our democracy. It will give more young people a say, modernise our outdated registration system, and strengthen rules a

We've written briefings for all the main issues in the Representation of the People Bill, which is going through parliament at the moment. You can find them here:

Representation of the People Bill This Representation of the People Bill is a major step forward for our democracy. It will give more young people a say, modernise our outdated registration system, and strengthen rules a

The Representation of the People Bill contains clauses to extend the franchise, make voter registration simpler, tackle dodgy money and reassess the unnecessary voter ID scheme. We've written briefings for all the main issues that you can find here: buff.ly/r40HviM

Why Holyrood’s voting system still favours larger parties Everyone knows that First Past the Post favours the largest party. At the last Westminster election, Labour managed to turn 34% of the vote into 63% of parliament – a full 29 percentag

Everyone knows that First Past the Post favours the largest party. Thankfully we don’t use this system in the Scottish Parliament, but even here the largest party still gets an uplift.

Here’s how we’ve briefed MPs ahead of the next reading of the Representation of the People Bill On Monday 2nd March, MPs will gather for the second reading of the Representation of the People Bill – a welcomed and vital opportunity to discuss a fairer and more representati

From votes at 16 to fairer participation measures, the Representation of the People Bill is a chance to make British democracy fit for the 21st century. Here’s how we’ve been briefing MPs ahead of its next reading.

It’s a three-horse race! First Past the Post isn’t fit for purpose in Gorton and Denton The Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election, scheduled for Thursday 26 February, has garnered much media attention. The outcome will be closely scrutinised by commentators for what i

And finally, @electoralreform.bsky.social made a really strong case for focussing more on the "broken" voting system than the results. First Past the Post is failing voters, Ian Simpson argues, because it's not designed for an era of multi-party politics

electoral-reform.org.uk/its-a-three-...

Here’s how we’ve briefed MPs ahead of the next reading of the Representation of the People Bill On Monday 2nd March, MPs will gather for the second reading of the Representation of the People Bill – a welcomed and vital opportunity to discuss a fairer and more representati

We’ve been sharing research and insight with MPs ahead of the Representation of the People Bill to ensure reforms genuinely strengthen voter representation.

How can someone be removed from the House of Lords? When peers make headlines for the wrong reasons, the same question inevitably arises: how do you actually remove someone from the House of Lords? The recent cases of Lord Mandelson and B

Proposals to 'modernise disciplinary procedures' in the House of Lords still leave decisions in the hands of other unelected peers, not the public.

It’s a three-horse race! First Past the Post isn’t fit for purpose in Gorton and Denton The Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election, scheduled for Thursday 26 February, has garnered much media attention. The outcome will be closely scrutinised by commentators for what i

With three candidates standing a good chance of winning today in Gorton and Denton, small changes in the vote could decide the winner – but whatever happens, there is a good chance that two-thirds of voters will end up with an MP they didn't vote for. buff.ly/gUjPNaQ

It’s a three-horse race! First Past the Post isn’t fit for purpose in Gorton and Denton The Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election, scheduled for Thursday 26 February, has garnered much media attention. The outcome will be closely scrutinised by commentators for what i

People deserve the chance to make positive choices. Yet we have a voting system that forces voters to make tactical judgements about which parties might or might not be placed to beat another party that they might really dislike.

Missing, in-action: What happened to the bill to remove the Hereditary Peers? It is not often we get to indulge in the mystery genre here at the ERS; however, this blog will delve into the curious incident of the missing Hereditary Peers bill. The bill, a straight

The bill, a straightforward piece of legislation to remove the remaining 92 hereditary peers from the House of Lords, was last spotted in September 2025. Since then, nothing. The bill has stalled and seems stuck in suspended legislative animation. buff.ly/PPw6ERo