Electoral Reform Society

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

The latest polling data, including a striking YouGov survey and a roundup of recent polling from eight major polling firms, paints a vivid picture of a country whose political allegiances have shifted dramatically.

The end of the Hereditary Peerage: A long campaign and an important victory We saw a big victory last night as the bill to remove the last hereditary peers from the House of Lords finally passed. The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill means the remaining 84

Until the end of this session of Parliament (in early May), when the hereditaries will eventually leave, the UK will still be one of only two countries left in the world with hereditary legislators, with the other being the African nation of Lesotho.

Hereditary peers finally lose right to Lords seat for life under major reform Keir Starmer's major reform to the House of Lords will finally end the inherited right of hereditary peers to sit on the red benches and cast votes on government legislation

The removal of the remaining hereditary peers is a long-overdue reform. Yet, progress must not stall here, and the government now needs to move onto reforming the Lords into a smaller, democratic chamber, with members chosen by and accountable to the people of this country.

Hereditary peers to be removed from Lords as bill passes The bill abolishes the 92 seats reserved for peers who inherit their titles through their families.

There is no place in a modern democracy for people influencing our laws due to an accident of birth. But neither should there be for people due to the politicians they pleased, or the donations they made.

Hereditary peers to be removed from the House of Lords after deal struck Agreement broke a months-long impasse over one of the biggest constitutional reforms in decades

There is one place that the government is backing 'fire and re-hire' - and that's the House of Lords. Up to 15 hereditary peers could be brought back as life peers following a deal made to remove the remaining aristocratic legislators.

The end of the Hereditary Peerage: A long campaign and an important victory We saw a big victory last night as the bill to remove the last hereditary peers from the House of Lords finally passed. The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill means the remaining 84

We saw a big victory last night as the bill to remove the last hereditary peers from the House of Lords finally passed, after months of spurious delays and heel dragging. electoral-reform.org.uk/the-end-of-t...

Watch this moment from Parliament as MPs debate whether the UK should move toward proportional representation during discussion of the Representation of the People Bill.

MPs form new cross-party group aimed at wholesale Lords reform This week, MPs and peers from across the political spectrum announced plans to form a new all-party parliamentary group on ‘wholesale’ Lords reform. The trigger was the very real sig

The House of Lords is meant to revise and scrutinise legislation. It is not meant to veto the will of the Commons through procedural games.

Hereditary peer ‘back door’ compromise risks undermining manifesto promise It seems the legislative game of hide and seek around the bill to remove the hereditary peers from the Lords is over and it is now entering its endgame. We highlighted recently that thin

Will we see hereditary peers just handed life peerages so they can stay in the chamber and continue to influence our laws? electoral-reform.org.uk/hereditary-p...

Hereditary peer ‘back door’ compromise risks undermining manifesto promise It seems the legislative game of hide and seek around the bill to remove the hereditary peers from the Lords is over and it is now entering its endgame. We highlighted recently that thin

It has been reported that to break the impasse over the bill to remove the Hereditary Peers, the government is preparing to offer the Conservative party more peerages so it can “bring back” a number of exiting hereditary peers. electoral-reform.org.uk/hereditary-p...

Proportional representation is true rule by the people | Letters Letters: Readers respond to Gaby Hinsliff’s defence of first past the post, and Polly Toynbee’s call for electoral reform

Readers have responded to Gaby Hinsliff’s attempted defence of the way we elect MPs to Westminster. It's plain to see that the status quo doesn't work and hasn't worked for years.

Elections bill will bring in once-in-a-generation change to voting – but misses big opportunity Today sees the first reading of the Representation of the People Bill, the government’s landmark legislation reforming how elections work. This promises to make some fundamental reform

We have long called for greater transparency and tighter rules on political finance, so it is welcome to see proposed changes to protect the UK’s democracy from foreign funding in this bill.

It’s time to end Britain’s first-past-the-post election lottery The Gorton and Denton by-election confirmed just how capricious our electoral system has become

"An electoral system should do two things: ensure that the majority rules and that significant minorities are adequately represented. First past the post achieves neither." www.ft.com/content/38d8...

MPs are speaking up about the need for proportional representation during debate on the Representation of the People Bill. Do you agree with Manuela that the UK should change how it elects MPs?

Elections bill will bring in once-in-a-generation change to voting – but misses big opportunity Today sees the first reading of the Representation of the People Bill, the government’s landmark legislation reforming how elections work. This promises to make some fundamental reform

If the government knows you are eligible to vote, you should be registered automatically. It's great to see trials in this direction in the upcoming bill

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

The question is no longer whether multi-party politics has arrived in the UK – it’s whether our outdated electoral system can survive it.

Calls for electoral reform were raised in the House of Commons during debate on the Representation of the People Bill. Do you think it is time for proportional representation in the UK?

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

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 system is struggling to keep up.

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

Unelected hereditary peers still sit in the House of Lords — despite promises to remove them. We investigate what happened to the bill and why reform can’t be left on the backburner.

📣 "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.