Set up a National Commission on Electoral Reform to review the electoral system

I ask the Government to set up a National Commission on Electoral Reform, as advocated by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Elections. It should be an independent, time limited, expert led review to build consensus for changing the electoral system for the Westminster Parliament.

Along with 60% of the British public, according to some data, I believe it is time to change the voting system for the Westminster Parliament and review alternatives. I believe that too many people feel their votes do not count, and that under the First Past the Post system millions of votes are wasted and representation bears little resemblance to votes cast. In my view, a more proportional voting system would help ensure that representation reflected votes cast and that voters would be treated with respect.

The Government recognises the strength of feeling about the operation of our democracy and understands concerns that have been raised about public trust and confidence in the electoral system by a range of stakeholders, including the All Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Elections and those who have signed this petition.

Trust is fundamental to the relationship between elected representatives and the public: without it, our democracy could not function. Electors should be able to participate with confidence that the system is secure, accessible and responsive to their concerns.

A politics that works for all people in all places, not some people in some places, is this Government’s priority. The Prime Minister has been clear about his commitment to electoral reform and welcomes a national debate about how our democratic system can best serve voters across the United Kingdom. This is an important constitutional issue, and one which naturally attracts a wide range of views across political parties and from people throughout the UK.

However, the Government's immediate priority is to deliver the important reforms currently before Parliament in the Representation of the People Bill. These measures will strengthen participation in our democracy by extending the franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds, making voter registration more accessible, and protecting elections from foreign interference and other threats to their integrity. We have been clear that the current Bill is not intended to determine wider questions about electoral systems or proportional representation, and that the reforms it contains are not the totality of the Government's wider ambitions for democratic renewal.