Open Britain on Plaid Cymru Defeating Reform at the Caerphilly Bye-Election

Dear David,

Yesterday’s Senedd by-election in Caerphilly was historic. Yet another glaring sign that politics-as-usual is over and done with.

Plaid Cymru soared to victory on nearly half the vote, Reform UK underperformed based on expectations (but still came in at a significant 36%), and Labour received a dismal 11% of the vote – in a seat they’ve held for the past century.

In 2021, Labour and the Conservatives together received 63% of the vote in Caerphilly. In 2025, it was just 13%.

Despite a massive electronic billboard in Caerphilly declaring that “only Labour can stop Reform,” voters overwhelmingly threw their support behind Plaid Cymru. Although many framed the contest as a two-way battle between Labour and Reform – a potential preview of the next General Election – the public rejected both the government’s message and Reform’s toxic politics.

Reform have been humbled. Farage doubled down on this by election, spending liberally to spread his xenophobic message, attempting to bring out disengaged voters fed up with Starmer. Reform reportedly had a celebration planned, but in the end, candidate Llyr Powell declined interviews and refused to even give a concession speech.

With a record turnout of over 50%, this was no protest vote. Once again, the declining confidence in Government and the traditional two-party system is on full display. Caerphilly showed us that while Farage benefits tremendously from distrust, voters can unify together to reject his noxious politics – and it doesn’t have to be behind Labour.

But in seats without a strong regional party like Plaid, results like this will be hard to replicate. Under First-Past-The-Post (FPTP), it’s more likely that Labour, the Greens and the Lib Dems will split the vote and pave the way for a narrow (and disproportional) Reform victory. With Labour’s record unpopularity, it’s unlikely that tactical voting will be enough.

Across Britain, five parties now poll in double digits. In Wales and Scotland, Plaid and the SNP are seeing massive resurgence (which is almost always an inverse trend of confidence in Westminster). Our politics has outgrown the system designed to contain it, but the system hasn’t changed.

POWER THE PUSHBACK

Farage knows his only path forward is under FPTP. It’s the only way he can split the opposition and turn minority support into outsized wins.

In 2026, Senedd elections will move to a proportional system. Westminster must follow. Britain can’t function as a multi-party democracy trapped in a two-party voting system.

That’s why we’re working with our allies in Parliament through the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Elections to fix this. We need a National Commission on Electoral Reform to finally deliver a fair, proportional voting system that reflects Britain today.

Because the next political earthquake won’t only shake Wales, it could bring the whole structure down.

HELP FIX OUR DEMOCRACY

Change doesn’t come easily, but it starts when people refuse to look away.

Thanks for your support!

Cheers,

Matt Gallagher

Communications Officer

Open Britain

38 Degrees Petition against Political Donations with Cryptocurrency

Here’s another new low in the descent of British politics into a mire of corruption where the rich buy influence with their favourite parties while throwing the rest of us under the proverbial bus. You probably won’t be surprised that this latest attack on democracy and political transparency comes courtesy of Nigel Farage and Reform. I’ve had absolutely no problem signing this, especially as trust in our elected representative has declined to the extent that some of the more excitable commenters and YouTubers on the right are talking about civil war. We definitely need not just PR, but also much stricter legislation on political donations mandating genuine transparency and open governmentl.

‘David, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK just crossed a dangerous line by becoming the first UK political party to accept cryptocurrency donations. [1] That means one thing: the door is now wide open for secret money to flood our elections and for shady individuals to buy influence.

This isn’t just about one political party. If this becomes the norm, we’ll have no clue who is buying our politics. Taking cryptocurrency is like politicians accepting suitcases of untraceable cash. Filtered through the right channels, that means no names. No real paper trail. And no limits.

That’s a dream scenario for shady billionaires like Elon Musk or countries like Russia trying to rig our democracy from the shadows. And worst of all, we wouldn’t know it’s happening. [2]

Right now, the Government is looking at new rules for political donations. That means we only have a short window to act. If enough of us speak up now, we can pile on the pressure and force the Government to stop this in its tracks – before it’s too late.

David, will you add your name to this urgent petition demanding a ban on secret crypto cash in politics? You can add your name with one click – it takes just 30 seconds to speak up against secret money in politics:

SIGN THE PETITION

I’m not signing because…

Stop shady crypto cash flooding our politics To: Rushanara Ali MP, Democracy Minister Ban the use of untraceable cryptocurrency from being used to bankroll UK political parties. I’LL SIGN

This isn’t Monopoly money. It’s trillions of pounds in real-world value. [3] And it’s mostly controlled by the world’s rich and powerful. [4] Imagine what they could do if they could spend it without any scrutiny.

When political money goes dark, it puts our democracy at risk. We all deserve to know who’s trying to influence our elections, and how.

But if we stay silent, we lose that right.

So David, will you join us in speaking out against secretive cryptocurrency in our politics, before it’s too late?
Click the button below to automatically add your name:

SIGN THE PETITION

I’m not signing because…

Thanks for being involved,

Mike, Flo, Tom and the 38 Degrees team

NOTES:
[1] The Guardian: UK should consider banning cryptocurrency political donations, minister says
Reform UK: Reform UK now accepts donations in cryptocurrency
[2] The Guardian: Crypto donations could entirely corrupt British politics. Labour must act quickly
Byline Times: Bungs from Billionaires: Do Labour’s Political Funding Reforms Really Pass the ‘Musk Test’?
[3] Reuters: Crypto sector breaches $4 trillion in market value during pivotal week
[4] CNBC: Trump Media builds $2 billion bitcoin hoard, as cryptocurrency swells president’s net worth‘

Short Questionnaire by Unlock Democracy Assessing People’s Views on Britain’s Voting System

I think Unlock Democracy is, like Open Britain, another pro-democracy organisation campaigning for electoral reform and the introduction of proportional representation. In this questionnaire below they ask if people feel that the voting system is failing the multiparty democracy that’s emerging, and if there are additional factors for people becoming increasingly disengaged and alienated from politics. I’m not a member, but have filled it out anyway as I do think we need electoral reform. I also believe one powerful reason why so many of the British public now distrust and loath politicians is because of the venality and sheer corruption shown by all the main political parties, and how, once they get in power,, they completely disregard the views of the general public and the pledges they made to get their overstuffed arses on the green benches.

‘Dear David,

The evidence keeps stacking up that our voting system is completely broken.

Latest polling shows that a party could win a majority at the next General Election with LESS THAN 30% of the vote.

At the same time, councillors and mayors are getting elected on ever smaller shares of the vote – the lowest so far being 18.9% of the vote.

First Past the Post was not designed for the multi-party politics we have today, and it shows!

We want to hear from you. Do you think our voting system has to change?

Yes

No

Not sure

Five political parties are now polling in double digits and that doesn’t include the SNP or Plaid Cymru who are both well above 10% in Scotland and Wales.

As Professor John Curtice told our webinar this week: “we are in a different world than before.”

He’s right and our voting system needs to catch up.

One Mayor won in May with just 25% of the vote and the turnout was only 30%. If you do the maths, that means 92.5% of registered voters did not support the eventual winner!

You can find other bizarre results on our “Change the voting system” page.

Even the government admits First Past the Post is flawed. They said so when they recently announced they were scrapping it for mayoral elections. But they have said nothing about Westminster elections – which could have the greatest impact of all.

Please share your views with us. Do you think it’s time to change the voting system?

Yes

No

Not sure

Best wishes,

Tom Brake
Director, Unlock Democracy’

Open Britain on the Election Results and the End of Two-Party Politics

‘Dear David,

Election results are still coming in, but one thing is clear – Britain is facing a future of electoral chaos, with the public intent on voting for five parties in a system designed for only two.

In those circumstances, the only outcome we can be sure of is that First-Past-The-Post will further undermine trust in British politics.

Last night was a terrible night for both the Conservative party and the Labour Government. The two parties that have dominated British politics for generations appear to be the two biggest losers in yesterday’s local elections.

In some cases, it was close. Reform UK candidate Sarah Pochin beat Labour in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just six votes, one of the closest results in British electoral history. To put that in context, Labour won that seat with a seemingly safe majority (over 14,000) less than a year ago.

In others, it was a blowout. The night started with a serious kicking for Labour when Reform UK claimed a council spot in Throston ward in Hartlepool. But it was the Conservatives who took the biggest beating throughout, being trounced by aggressive campaigns on both the left and right flank.

As Nigel Farage himself put it – echoing quite clearly what I predicted the other night (if I may say) – Reform UK is now the “main opposition.” Of course, he sees this as a good thing, whereas I’ve argued that it would only degrade the quality of our politics to levels previously unthinkable.

Labour have responded with an air of disappointed understanding. Starmer and party chair Ellie Reeves have attempted to explain their poor night by suggesting there just hasn’t been enough time for people to feel the benefits of their ‘change’ agenda. Many voters, however, have said that they HAVE felt the change (especially around cold weather payments and PIP reform)…and they don’t like it.

The magnitude of the political earthquake was so great that it even roused our old friend Jacob Rees-Mogg from his lair, floating into the Radio 4 Today programme studio to advocate for his Brexity mate, Nigel.

“I think we will inevitably do deals with Reform in those councils that are hung between the Conservatives and Reform,” Rees-Mogg said. “I think we need to work together.”

“In terms of policy, there is very little difference between the Conservative party and Reform, it’s basically a matter of personality,” he added. “The only policy I can think of that I disagree with Nigel Farage about is proportional representation, but as his party does better he’ll soon give up believing in that.”

Ironically, he’s speaking of the one policy that could upend the political duopoly of modern Britain – which, like many of Rees-Mogg’s policies of choice – the public is overwhelmingly sick of.

The last General Election was the most multi-party vote we’ve ever seen, and the result was the most disproportionate in history. Today’s elections are a continuation of that trend, and it spells disaster for the public’s faith in democracy.

Our mission, off the back of these results, is two-fold:

• Poke holes in the faux-populism of Nigel Farage, and show that while he might speak to valid grievances, his party fundamentally has nothing to offer Britain that will actually address the crises we’re facing;
• Champion the multi-party politics that Brits clearly want, and make clear that it’s only possible with a proportional electoral system. Make sure you sign our petition for a National Commission on Electoral Reform if you haven’t done so yet.

That’s of course in addition to our existing goals – and those of the APPG for Fair Elections – of getting dark money out of politics and protecting our democracy from harmful political disinformation.

We’re a small team but we punch well above our weight. We’ve built a huge group of MPs and Peers inside Parliament and we’re growing our mass movement outside Parliament.

With that twin-track approach, we are well placed to deliver the change required to ensure politics starts working for ordinary people like us, and not just for the rich and well connected (like Farage!). Days like today remind us why our mission is so important.

LET’S PUT FPTP IN THE BIN

Thank you for your support!

Matt

Matt Gallagher

Communications Officer’

The fact that Rees-Mogg has crawled out of whatever rock he’s been hiding under to give his opinion that there’s precious little difference between the Tories and Reform should be a warning in itself about how toxic Farage’s party are.

Open Britain on Reform’s Victory in Runcorn and Its Implications

‘Dear David,

It’s happened. As Open Britain has predicted for weeks, Reform UK has just won the Parliamentary by-election in Runcorn and Helsby – and by just SIX votes.

This is not the news we wanted to hear this Friday morning – especially as it also appears that Reform are also on track to have significant success in the local elections. As we all know, Farage and Tice should rarely be trusted on anything – but they HAVE kept their word on delivering a seismic shift in the British political landscape this morning.

The results from Runcorn (and beyond) should provide a huge wake-up call to both Labour and the Conservatives that ‘politics as usual’ just isn’t cutting it anymore. But more importantly, it must be seen as a crucial reminder of what our decaying democracy can give rise to. Here’s why:

Populism has prevailed

When we visited Runcorn in April, very few of the dozens of Reform voters we spoke to could even name their candidate – now their MP – let alone recall anything about her or how she would improve their lives. Instead, their enthusiasm seemed largely based on the media talking points they had heard from Nigel Farage. They seemed particularly motivated by the issue of immigration and their faith that Reform and Farage would crack down on it.

As it happens, immigration is an issue which has very little direct impact on Runcorn – far less than on most other parts of Britain. It’s clear, then, that this Reform win is not a victory for the people of Runcorn, but for the populist propaganda and lies being pushed by Farage.

Anti-establishment anger

Alongside immigration, it is clear the result in Runcorn is also a rejection of Labour’s current performance. When we spoke to Runcorn voters, their anger and, frankly, hatred for Keir Starmer and his Labour government shone through and was the most prevalent reason given for voting Reform.

This is not how our elections should be decided – a race to the bottom where we vote for the least objectionable candidate or to give the current guy one in the eye. At a time when the established parties are performing poorly in the polls, a system that encourages this simply paves the way for bad actors and the further rise of the far-right.

Low turnout

Whilst the pattern of anti-establishment voting in favour of Reform is deeply concerning, the very low turnout is an equally significant problem. In fact, it could be seen as an even greater problem.

Only 46% of people cast a vote in Runcorn and Helsby. We know that turnout at by-elections is always lower than at general elections, but this level of disengagement in relation to a Parliamentary seat is extremely worrying. Reform have won this seat with the support of just 17% of eligible voters. This is hardly a strong mandate for anything – especially with a majority of just six votes – but they will claim their win is an endorsement of their party’s plans, including on issues of such fundamental importance as Net Zero.

Strong voter turnout is the bedrock of any democracy, and it’s very clear this is on a downward trend in Britain. We must reverse this trend and give people a reason to engage positively with the democratic system.

So what are WE doing?

Open Britain is working hard, every day, to repair the cracks in our democracy.

• We’re fighting back against the far-right and authoritarian populism, exposing the lies of Reform and Farage, and making it clear they are not the solution to the problems with Britain’s democracy.
• We’re reminding people of their democratic rights, and empowering them to use their votes effectively – in all elections.
• We’re putting meaningful pressure on the government to make our elections more representative, to give everyone a voice and make every vote count equally.

Our commitment to fight AGAINST the far-right populists, and FOR your democratic rights, is stronger now than ever before.

The result from Runcorn will set alarm bells ringing across Britain. Those alarm bells will wake more people up to the things OB has been saying for a long time now. We will work hard to ensure as many people as possible hear our message and join our movement. And we’ll continue to be extremely grateful for your support as we do that.

Thank you for standing up to Reform!

All the best,

James Patrick

Campaigns and Content Officer’

Down here in Bristol we had an election for the West of England Combined Authority metro mayor. It had been Dan Norris, who was right-wing Labour. He, however, has been suspended and forced to vacate his seat as he’s being investigated for accusations of rape and child molestation. However, the election was won by the replacement Labour candidate, though Reform came a close second. The Greens were expected to win as they won a parliamentary seat in Bristol a year or so ago, and are also the leading party on Bristol’s council. However, I suspect their chances of winning the election for metro mayor were harmed by the damage they’ve done to Bristol’s traffic system and their plans to pedestrianize Park Street, one of the city’s major shopping and dining areas, in the name of being green and expanding the Clean Air Zone. This has just caused more traffic chaos and Park Street’s businesses are understandably extremely worried about losing trade through pedestrianization.

As with Runcorn, I also expect that the turnout for the metro mayor election here was very low, as the metro mayors probably appear to most people in the Bristol area as remote and far removed from the more their immediate leaders and representatives on their local authorities. As for the new Labour metro mayor herself, she’s acknowledged that she now needs to win over and work with those who voted for her opponents. But I don’t have much optimism. I think she’s another Labour right-winger, like Norris, who will actually do precious little for the region’s constituents. Like giving them a proper, council-controlled bus service that serves all the districts in Bristol and its surroundings rather than just the ones providing First Bus with a very tidy profit.

Open Britain on Marine Le Pen’s Conviction for Embezzlement

Dear David,

The front page of France’s Libe couldn’t have been more clear this morning: Marine Le Pen is guilty of embezzlement, and it is possible for corrupt politicians to be held to account.

Le Pen, who heads up France’s far-right National Rally party, has spent her career rallying against the European Union, viciously attacking immigrants, and stirring up culture war divisions with tirades about “le wokisme.”

Her bid for the Presidency has been rendered moot, as the politician was found guilty of illegally using European Union funds to fund her own political party.

The irony of Le Pen benefitting financially from an institution she’s railed against for years is not lost on anyone. But the importance of this verdict goes far beyond the National Rally’s hypocrisy:

🔵 The French justice system issued an independent ruling on a critical democratic issue – Liberté

⚪️ The ruling enforced French citizens’ democratic right to participate in fairly funded elections – Egalité

🔴 Le Pen’s inability to run for office for the next five years will hamper the authoritarian National Rally’s ability to attack France’s democratic institutions – Fraternité

Britain and America could both learn a lesson. Our disgraced former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, was handed a cushy job at the Daily Mail on his way out the door. And as Donald Trump famously said, “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose any voters.”

Predictably, the far-right always play the victim whenever basic accountability rules are enforced on them. Le Pen is doing it right now, claiming France is now a “tyranny” under “tyrannical judges.” Unsurprisingly, The Telegraph and The Spectator’s editors seem to agree.

But real justice doesn’t cater to the victim complexes of demagogues or right-wing tabloids. It holds up the most basic tenet of democracy, that we live in a society, that society has rules we all agree on, and that anyone and everyone who breaks them should face the music.

The rule of law lives on in France today – Vive La République!

All the best,

Mark Kieran

CEO, Open Britain

Open Britain Letter to Speaker to Refuse Trump an Invitation to Parliament

Dear David,

Donald Trump has been back in the White House for just five weeks, and already, he’s attacking democracy, undermining institutions, cosying up to autocrats and humiliating America’s traditional allies. Now, he’s been invited to visit the UK again – and there’s speculation he could be invited to address Parliament.

That cannot be allowed to happen.

Addressing Parliament is one of our country’s highest honours and should be reserved for leaders who uphold democracy, not those who tear it down. Trump tried to overturn an election. He fuels division. He tramples on democratic norms. Giving him the prestige of addressing Parliament would send a dangerous message – that we’re willing to overlook all of that.

This isn’t just a matter of routine diplomacy. The world is at a crossroads – we need to signal what is important to us. Trump’s visit will be a rallying point for the forces of authoritarian populism already gaining ground here. Farage will be like a dog with two tails. If we roll out the red carpet for Trump, we legitimise the brutish and hateful behaviour that was on show yesterday in the Oval Office.

It remains to be seen whether growing public disquiet can overturn the decision to invite him. But, if we take a stand now, we can certainly stop him from receiving one of the highest honours our country can give a foreign leader. The key to that is to make our case to the Speaker of the House of Commons and persuade him to refuse to extend an invitation.

Click the button below to read the letter I have sent to the Speaker today, and, if you agree with what I say, please do add your name to it.

ADD YOUR NAME?

The UK should always be on the side of democracy, not the side of those who seek to undermine it. Let’s make that crystal clear to the world.

All the very best,

Mark Kieran

CEO, Open Britain’

Open Britain on How the First Past the Post System Could Enable Reform and Its Attack on Democracy

‘Dear David,

Sometimes, the greatest danger to democracy comes not from obvious villains but from those who gradually undermine its foundations while claiming to defend them. As Britain approaches a period of significant democratic peril, Reform UK presents itself as a voice for change while architecting something far more concerning: a systematic effort to dismantle the guardrails that protect British democracy.

This is not mere hyperbole. Reform UK, hovering near 30% in some polls, has reached a dangerous threshold where Britain’s first-past-the-post electoral system could suddenly switch from artificially constraining its influence to artificially amplifying it. The implications of this shift demand urgent attention.

First Past the Post (FPTP) has a peculiar relationship with smaller parties that works like a switch. When a party has relatively low support – say around 15-20% of votes – FPTP acts as a barrier, making it extremely difficult for them to win seats.

But once a party’s support crosses a critical threshold – around 30% – FPTP’s effect can suddenly reverse. Instead of suppressing their representation, the system can start handing them significantly more power than their vote share would justify. This happens because at 30% support, a party can start winning individual constituencies outright, especially in areas where the traditional party’s vote has collapsed.

This “tipping point” effect makes Reform UK’s current position particularly concerning. As they approach that 30% threshold in the polls, they’re nearing the level where FPTP could stop holding them back and start catapulting them forward, delivering a share of the seats in Parliament far in excess of their share of the vote.

This matters enormously because Reform UK represents something fundamentally different from traditional protest parties. Its leadership maintains deep connections with the global authoritarian movement, from Trump’s inner circle to Europe’s far-right networks. Their policy platform, masked in populist rhetoric about “taking back control,” would effectively dismantle crucial democratic safeguards: withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights, restrictions on postal voting that could suppress participation, and systematic defunding of independent institutions from the BBC to the civil service.

The economic vision Reform presents is equally concerning: £150 billion in public spending cuts, wholesale deregulation, and tax policies that would primarily benefit economic elites while devastating public services. This combination – weakening democratic institutions while concentrating economic power – mirrors the playbook used by authoritarian leaders from Viktor Orbán to Vladimir Putin: create a facade of democratic legitimacy while hollowing out democracy’s substance.

What makes this moment particularly dangerous is the media ecosystem amplifying Reform’s message. GB News, for instance, recently mentioned Reform UK 572 times in a single month – double its coverage of the Conservative Party. This creates a feedback loop where increased coverage drives polling numbers, which in turn justify more coverage, all while lending Reform’s radical proposals an air of mainstream acceptability.

Britain’s democratic institutions currently show worrying signs of strain. The 2024 general election produced the most disproportionate result in British history (as mentioned above, Labour winning 63% of seats from just 34% of votes). Dark money flows through our politics via legal loopholes that remain unaddressed. Trust in democratic institutions has fallen to historic lows. These conditions create fertile ground for authoritarian populism to take root.

The solution requires understanding that Reform UK is not simply another protest movement to be waited out. It represents a sophisticated attempt to exploit the vulnerabilities in our democratic system at precisely the moment when that system is most fragile. The response must be equally sophisticated: systematic democratic renewal that addresses these vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

This means replacing first-past-the-post with a truly representative voting system, closing the loopholes that allow dark money to corrupt our politics, and strengthening the independence of our democratic institutions. The appetite for such reform exists – a majority of political parties, representing 500 parliamentary seats, now acknowledge that FPTP damages trust in politics. Public support for proportional representation has reached historic highs.

The choice Britain faces is stark but clear. We can wait until Reform UK crosses the threshold where our broken electoral system begins amplifying rather than constraining its influence. Or we can act now to build democratic institutions robust enough to withstand the authoritarian challenge of our era.

The stakes could not be higher. As other democracies have learned too late, the time to strengthen democratic safeguards is before they are dismantled, not after. Reform UK’s rise represents not just a political challenge but a fundamental test of our democratic resilience.

How we respond will determine whether Britain’s democracy emerges stronger or follows the path of democratic decay we’ve witnessed elsewhere. Let’s make sure it’s the former.

All the very best,

Mark Kieran

Chief Executive’

Open Britain on MPs Calling to End First Past the Post System

I got this on Thursday, and it’s a piece of encouraging news for genuine democratic reform here in the UK.

‘Dear David,

Today’s Backbench Business Debate on Proportional Representation was a resounding success. It was another clear sign that momentum is building across Parliament for a voting system shake-up, that MPs are increasingly coming around to the idea that we need fairer – and more proportional – elections.

More than twenty members from across the House lined up to condemn Britain’s First-Past-the-Post voting system, describing it as “undemocratic”, “unrepresentative”, and “outdated”. Just one backbencher gave a speech in defence of the status quo.

It follows a “historic” vote in favour of PR in December, when the House of Commons passed a symbolic motion with the support of 138 MPs, including 59 from the governing party. Following on from that, more than 11,000 people wrote to their MPs and asked them to attend today’s debate.

Parliamentarians echoed the calls of Open Britain, Fair Vote UK, the APPG for Fair Elections, and others, advocating for a National Commission on Electoral Reform. This public body would be tasked with recommending a replacement to the broken First-Past-The-Post system, which the governing Labour party’s policy forum accepts is a driver of “the distrust and alienation we see in politics.”

The public is also turning against First-Past-the-Post. Recent polling by Survation found that two thirds (64%) of the public want the government to address the flaws in the current voting system before the next general election. Earlier this month YouGov reported record support for changing to a proportional voting system (48%) – and the lowest support for maintaining First Past the Post (24%).

Campaigners say the 2024 general election was the most distorted in British history, with Labour winning a landslide majority despite receiving just one in three votes. 21% of voters backed either Green Party and Reform UK, yet these parties won a combined 9 seats – or 1% of MPs .

The APPG for Fair Elections argues that this is just the most recent example of a system that is becoming less representative over time and contributing to collapsing trust in politics in Britain.

Read below what MPs said during and after the debate.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“PR is already used in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in different forms, as well as in the vast majority of democracies worldwide. So why not here?  Evidence shows that PR leads to higher voter turnout and more representative governments.”

– Lisa Smart MP, Lib Dem (APPG Vice-Chair)

“Two in every five people didn’t even participate [in the last General Election]. Does this not show that actually we need to change that so more people engage in our democratic system?”

– Florence Eshalomi MP, Labour

“Now more than ever we must strengthen British democracy. We need Proportional Representation for general elections, and a National Commission for Electoral Reform would be an excellent first step towards fairer elections.”

– Sean Woodcock MP, Labour

“We’re now at an unprecedented situation where 554 MPs, 85% of us here, were elected with less than 50% of the voters who turned out.”

“The Government has a responsibility to face up to those problems and address them before the next general election, starting with the launch of the National Commission for Electoral Reform.”

– Alex Sobel MP, Labour (APPG Chair)

---

Increasingly, Parliamentarians can see the writing on the wall. Trust in politics is something that Prime Minister and his party have repeatedly pledged to address, and First-Past-The-Post cannot be ignored as a key driver of the public’s disillusionment.

The APPG for Fair Elections and its allies are offering the Government a practical and efficient solution: a National Commission for Electoral Reform to sketch out what a better system looks like.

We’ve never been closer, and the movement has never had this much momentum.

But it’s now up to us to match the energy *inside* Parliament by building an irresistible public demand for change *outside* Parliament. Together, we can make it happen, and build a democracy that works for everyone.

All the best,

Mark

Mark Kieran

CEO, Open Britain’

Open Britain on Shocking Poll Showing Young People Turning Away from Democracy

‘Dear David,

Our whole team was shocked when we saw this recent poll. A majority (52%) of Gen Z (those aged 13-27) said that “the UK would be a better place if a strong leader was in charge who does not have to bother with parliament and elections”.

While we should always exercise caution with polls like these, the numbers are undeniably striking. It’s a sign that the UK’s future generations are giving up on democratic ideals.

For those of us who dedicate our time to restoring democracy, it’s incredibly demoralising. If no one is around to advocate democratic values going forward, our societies will inevitably succumb to the far-right strongmen rising around the world.

Looking further into the data, however, these numbers start to make more sense.

Gen Z exhibit the highest levels of distrust in institutions of any generation – especially in Government, Parliament, and political parties. Polls show that young people feel they simply don’t have a say in our political system on the issues that will affect them most (eg. climate change). They’ve become increasingly depressed about an economy that they say isn’t working for them, and that they don’t think our political system can solve.

The takeaway from this poll, then, is not that we should give up hope and concede to the strongmen. Young people’s distrust in democracy is not just a natural phenomenon beyond our control. Britain, through its neglect of democratic reform, has made this happen.

I like to say that democracy is a verb. It’s something we have to actively build and uphold. When the system has been bought up by big donors, when results are distorted by First-Past-The-Post, when big tech divides us and pits us against each other online, it’s a sign that the political system has fundamentally broken.

As an older Gen Z myself, the lesson is clear. This poll shows that a democratic revival is more important now than ever. We need to prove to Gen Z that an overhauled democracy can be something better. That a real and fair democracy can improve their livelihoods and actually involve them in crucial conversations about the future.

Of course, the reality is that young people aren’t really rejecting democracy – they’re rejecting a system that has failed them. By championing genuine democratic reform, we can show Gen Z that their voices matter and their participation is essential. Together, we can build a political system that truly represents everyone, tackles the pressing challenges of our time, and proves that democracy, when done right, remains humanity’s best path forward.

All the best,

Matt

Matt Gallagher

Communications Officer’

I came across this poll a few days ago , when GB News posted up a video about it. Of course, being a right-wing news platform, the commenter they got on to talk about it was one of the frights from Reform or a similar organisation. There’s a bit more, according to GB News, that Open Britain have omitted here. The poll reported, apparently, that Gen Z wanted a dictator or a strongman, who would push through radical reforms, and some of them really wanted a revolution. This is going much further than simply changing the current voting system from First Past the Post to Proportional Representation.

Part of what has discredited democracy in these kids’ eyes is, I believe, the lack of real choice between the parties. It doesn’t much matter whether you vote Tory or Labour, both are essentially Thatcherite parties whose policies are privatisation, including that the of the NHS, and dismantlement of the welfare state. It’s very much a case of ‘same sh*t, different assholes’. The result, as when New Labour were copying the Tories earlier this century, is one of apathy and disenfranchisement. Although not so much apathy now, as anger. There’s also a demonstrable lack of democracy in the way the parties now change their leader. This seems to be done half-way through their terms of office, or as soon as one PM becomes unpopular, to ensure that there is a surge of enthusiasm for their successor and the resulting election is really just a coronation to rubber stamp the party’s consecration of the new leader. As a result, over the past decade and a half of Tory rule we’ve had one PM after another chosen, not by the general public, but by the Tory party in a way that totally disproves the assertion that PR alone leads to unstable governments.

Polls have shown that the British people want the renationalisation of the NHS and utilities and a strong, properly functioning welfare state. But the corporate elite, who are raking in billions from the impoverishment of the great British people, don’t want it, the media don’t want it and so the politicians, taking their cue from this establishment, tell us we can’t have it.

This situation has to change before it becomes really explosive. Farage is playing off people’s dissatisfaction and alienation from the current system politics, even though, as Mark P has pointed out in a comment and link to a very incisive video to my last post, that he’s just a safety valve for disaffected Tories. Despite the contentious politics around Holocaust Memorial Day, I’m glad we do have it and similar events. Because if we didn’t, we’d have genuinely Nazi assholes spreading malicious lies about how it is all the fault of the ‘Jews’.

For the sake of real democracy and genuine political engagement, neoliberalism and the stitch-up politics that exclude genuine change must go!

As a closing aside, I do think Open Britain’s image at the top of their article of Donald Trump looking out of a massive TV screen is very suitable. It’s genuinely Orwellian. Trump really is Big Brother, and the pillock is watching YOU!