Use Proportional Representation at the next General Election

Change the voting system to Proportional Representation instead of First Past the Post. We think this would eradicate disillusionment and encourage voter participation as people could start to believe that their votes actually matter.

We think that First Past The Post only works when there are only two parties involved. We live in a more diverse society than ever. We think that if we want our politicians to truly reflect our population then we need Proportional Representation.

There are 650 Members of Parliament (MPs) in the UK Parliament, each of whom represent a constituency. Each MP is elected using a ‘First Past the Post’ system whereby electors vote once for a candidate in their constituency. The candidate with the most votes is elected as the MP for the constituency. This provides a robust and secure way of electing representatives that is well understood by voters.

While not perfect, the Government believes this to be the most appropriate voting method for UK Parliamentary General Elections. MPs representing a range of views and parties are elected to the Parliament, supporting a range of views to be put forward and debated. At the same time, the ‘First Past the Post’ system also ensures a clear link between MPs and their constituents, thereby ensuring strong and clear local accountability between elected representatives and their constituents.

The Government is committed to restoring trust in our democracy. In July 2025, the published policy paper, Restoring Trust in Our Democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections, set out our plans to simplify, protect and promote our democracy.

Through measures such as moving towards an increasingly automated electoral registration system and reforming voter identification we intend to remove barriers to democratic participation that we know individuals face so citizens can be encouraged to play their part in shaping our democratic future with confidence.

However, we recognise that improving processes, such as registration and voter ID, is only part of the solution. Research(https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/research-reports-and-data/public-attitudes/attitudes-voter-registration-research-report) tells us that electors’ attitudes and motivation are arguably more important than procedural issues in determining whether they participate in the democratic process. That is why the Government is listening to those already leading the way. Across the UK, individuals and organisations are finding innovative ways to reduce and remove obstacles to democratic participation. We are learning from their successes and building on initiatives that are already making a difference. This work will help empower citizens to be active participants in our democracy.

To stay informed about the latest developments in electoral policy and practice, we recommend visiting www.electoralcommission.org.uk.

Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government