Labour MPs press Burnham to launch electoral reform commission
An amendment backed by 185 MPs urges the Prime Minister to establish a national commission on voting systems within his first 100 days in office.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces an immediate institutional test regarding electoral reform, with nearly 100 Labour MPs signing an amendment urging the establishment of a national commission on voting systems. The proposal, tabled to the Representation of the People Bill, seeks to move Westminster away from the first past the post model towards a proportional representation system. Signatories have requested that the commission report its findings before the next general election, aiming to embed the reform into the party’s next manifesto.
The amendment has attracted support from 185 MPs across eight parties, including independents. Notable signatories include current cabinet members such as Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh and Communities Minister Florence Eshalomi, as well as the Prime Minister’s Parliamentary Private Secretary, Jo Platt. The proposal was tabled by Labour MP Alex Sobel, who noted that the amendment has been supported by more MPs than any other currently in parliament.
Number 10 stated that Burnham remains committed to electoral reform in Labour’s next manifesto but stopped short of explicitly backing the new commission. A Labour source indicated that the government is prioritising the bill’s existing commitments on votes at 16 and political donation rules, viewing the commission as a matter for a future party manifesto once a mandate is secured.
New polling by YouGov suggests a shift in parliamentary opinion, with 53% of MPs supporting a review of the current voting system. This data indicates that the proposal now holds majority support in the House of Commons. MPs have expressed hope that the Prime Minister will announce the commission before the October budget, citing the breadth of cross-party support as a signal of political readiness.
The Representation of the People Bill is scheduled to return to parliament for its remaining stages on 2 September. However, procedural uncertainties remain, as a national commission would not strictly require legislation to be established, potentially placing the amendment out of scope for the bill. Additionally, it is unclear whether newly appointed frontbench MPs will withdraw their support for the backbench amendment once parliament returns, in line with convention.
Burnham, a longtime advocate for reform, endorsed the call for a national commission at last year’s Labour conference while serving as Mayor of Greater Manchester. Labour members voted in favour of moving towards proportional representation at the party’s annual conference in 2022. The UK last rejected electoral reform in 2011 following a referendum on the alternative vote system, making this the most significant push for change in over a decade.
