Rev. 27 Dec 25
A survey of campaigning groups and individuals advocating or otherwise pertinent to the drive for electoral reform in the UK.
Please let us know of any additions or other improvements you would like to see. Our aim is to be informative and constructive, and to avoid any commitment to intransigent party political or sectarian interests.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Elections (APPG)
- The APPG proposal: See National Commission on Electoral Reform: Terms of Reference (dated 01 Sep 25). Note that the envisaged timetable was for Commission launch within 3 months of the proposal (i.e. Xmas 2025) and their report within 12 months of that (i.e. Xmas 2026).
- The APPG secretariat: Fair Vote
plus the envisaged organising team: - Make Votes Matter “is a single-issue campaign for Proportional Representation in the House of Commons”. They do not say what kind of PR they advocate, but strongly favour having a party-proportional system [which probably implies AMS]
- Labour for a new democracy. Describes itself as “The campaign for Labour to enact electoral reform, introduce Proportional Representation, and bring in fair votes”. See their website for more details. They do not say what kind of PR they advocate, but strongly favour a Commission. In October 2023, recognising that “the flaws in the current voting system are contributing to the distrust and alienation we see in politics”, Labour’s official policy recorded that “there is no consensus for a new system”.
- Liberal Democrats for Electoral Reform definitely want something “proportional”, have reservations about AMS because it is not necessarily fully “proportional”, but nevertheless seem to favour STV.
- Open Britain (Ltd by guarantee) do not say what kind of proportional system they want, but they do (injudiciously) declare an aversion to one of the parties.
Other electoral reform groups
- Unlock Democracy present much evidence of just how bad FPTP is, strongly advocate having a more proportional system, give no indication of what system they favour, but support the appointment of the proposed Commission.
- Electoral Reform Society. The highly respected primary advocates of electoral reform. But they are uncompromisingly devoted to STV, the Single Transferrable Vote system of preferential voting in multi-member constituencies.
Which they unfortunately insist on calling Proportional Representation. And which in any case is of course unachievable in time for the next election.
General campaigning groups
- Democracy Now
- Open Democracy
- Compass
- Change
- 38 Degrees
- Power
- AVAAZ
- Canary
- Fresh Start Movement. Seek to promote a range of fundamental improvements in the way things are now, including the dysfunctional system in Westminster, and the electoral system.
Political parties
> Labour [See also Labour for a new democracy above]
> Libdem [See also Liberal Democrats for Electoral Reform above]
> Conservative
> Reform
> Greens
> “Your Party”
> SNP
> Plaid Cymru
etc.
Historic
> Lessons to be learned from the Yes to AV campaign failure
Not pertinent
> New Politics – seeks new politicians for USA (!)