This Council notes that the Labour Party in government successfully implemented Proportional Representation (PR) for several elections, introducing PR into devolved government for Scotland and Wales, in the London Assembly and the Supplementary vote for the Mayoral elections. The introduction of PR for local elections in Scotland has led to an increase in turnout, which was 44.8% at the last elections, held in 2022.

In contrast turnout in Manchester in 2022 was 24.08%, meaning over 75% of eligible voters stayed away.

With the Welsh Senedd reviewing legislation on Single Transferable Vote for local councils, England looks likely to be the only part of the UK without any form of PR at local level.

Earlier in 2022, Labour Mayor for Greater Manchester Andy Burnham voiced public support for a Proportional Representation system for general elections, writing “First-past-the-post, combined with the whip system, takes the votes of millions and turns them into inordinate power for a small Whitehall elite.”

Earlier in 2022, Prospect and the University and College Union (UCU) also voted to embrace more proportional general elections.

The list of trade unions who back some kind of electoral reform is long and growing: Unison, Unite the Union, Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), Prospect, University and College Union (UCU), Fire Brigades Union (FBU), Musicians’ Union (MU), Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF), Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA), Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), Napo (Probation and family court staff).

In addition, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) recently unanimously passed a motion calling First Past the Post “undemocratic”. The union will now establish a national policy forum to discuss the merits of PR. As the Labour for a New Democracy coalition has said ”more and more trade unions can see that First Past the Post is bad for workers and bad for the UK”.

According to polling, the vast majority of Labour members, and of voters in the United Kingdom, support the use of proportional representation for elections in the United Kingdom. At the most recent (prior to 2022) Labour Party conference, the vast majority of Constituency Labour Party (CLP) delegates supported proportional representation.

The Liberal Democrats have a long standing policy of supporting Proportional Representation. The Green Party of England and Wales has also long supported a move to Proportional Representation. There is therefore unity in the political parties represented at Full Council in support of Proportional Representation.

The last Labour Government put together the Jenkins Commission, which recommended the adoption of the AV+ voting system.

The Conservative Government has also been waging a war against PR, stripping supplementary voting away from Mayoral elections.

The UK’s First Past the Post voting system curtails voter choice and leaves millions unrepresented by those elected.

This Council also notes that at the local elections in May 2022 in Manchester, Labour gained 93.75% of council seats, despite only 16.4% of the electorate (those eligible to vote) voting Labour. Manchester Liberal Democrats won only 1 council seat (3.1%) to represent 12.64% of the votes cast. Manchester Greens also won only 1 council seat (3.1%) to represent 11.47% of the votes cast.

This Council believes:

·                That it is essential that faith is restored in our democracy by introducing voting systems that fairly represent the electorate’s political views at both local and national level. First Past the Post produces binary politics, but no party has the monopoly of wisdom. We need an inclusive politics where the best ideas serve communities in Manchester.

·                A system of Proportional Representation in which seats match votes and all votes count equally would help to rebuild trust by ensuring that all political views are represented in Parliament and at local councils in proportion to their level of public support. The systems of Proportional Representation that maintain a constituency link are best, since they mean voters will still have local representatives. Single Transferable Vote and AV+ both fulfil these criteria.

Council therefore resolves to request the Leader of the Council to:-

·                Make representations to Manchester’s MPs asking them to support a form of Proportional Representation for electing local councils and for general elections, and the return of Supplementary Vote for Mayoral elections.

·                Oppose this Conservative Government’s efforts to remove existing PR systems, and to write a letter to the Prime Minister Liz Truss condemning the removal of the supplementary vote from elections for Mayor.”

Proposed by Councillor Good, seconded by Councillor Johnson and supported by Councillors Bayunu, Leech and Nunney.

Councillor Good proposed the motion, which was seconded by Councillor Johnson:-

This Council notes that the Labour Party in government successfully implemented Proportional Representation (PR) for several elections, introducing PR into devolved government for Scotland and Wales, in the London Assembly and the Supplementary vote for the Mayoral elections. The introduction of PR for local elections in Scotland has led to an increase in turnout, which was 44.8% at the last elections, held in 2022.

In contrast turnout in Manchester in 2022 was 24.08%, meaning over 75% of eligible voters stayed away.

With the Welsh Senedd reviewing legislation on Single Transferable Vote for local councils, England looks likely to be the only part of the UK without any form of PR at local level.

Earlier in 2022, Labour Mayor for Greater Manchester Andy Burnham voiced public support for a Proportional Representation system for general elections, writing “First-past-the-post, combined with the whip system, takes the votes of millions and turns them into inordinate power for a small Whitehall elite.”

Earlier in 2022, Prospect and the University and College Union (UCU) also voted to embrace more proportional general elections.

The list of trade unions who back some kind of electoral reform is long and growing: Unison, Unite the Union, Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), Prospect, University and College Union (UCU), Fire Brigades Union (FBU), Musicians’ Union (MU), Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF), Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA), Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), Napo (Probation and family court staff).

In addition, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) recently unanimously passed a motion calling First Past the Post “undemocratic”. The union will now establish a national policy forum to discuss the merits of PR. As the Labour for a New Democracy coalition has said ”more and more trade unions can see that First Past the Post is bad for workers and bad for the UK”.

According to polling, the vast majority of Labour members, and of voters in the United Kingdom, support the use of proportional representation for elections in the United Kingdom. At the most recent (prior to 2022) Labour Party conference, the vast majority of Constituency Labour Party (CLP) delegates supported proportional representation.

The Liberal Democrats have a long standing policy of supporting Proportional Representation. The Green Party of England and Wales has also long supported a move to Proportional Representation. There is therefore unity in the political parties represented at Full Council in support of Proportional Representation.

The last Labour Government put together the Jenkins Commission, which recommended the adoption of the AV+ voting system.

The Conservative Government has also been waging a war against PR, stripping supplementary voting away from Mayoral elections.

The UK’s First Past the Post voting system curtails voter choice and leaves millions unrepresented by those elected.

This Council also notes that at the local elections in May 2022 in Manchester, Labour gained 93.75% of council seats, despite only 16.4% of the electorate (those eligible to vote) voting Labour. Manchester Liberal Democrats won only 1 council seat (3.1%) to represent 12.64% of the votes cast. Manchester Greens also won only 1 council seat (3.1%) to represent 11.47% of the votes cast.

This Council believes:

•                That it is essential that faith is restored in our democracy by introducing voting systems that fairly represent the electorate’s political views at both local and national level. First Past the Post produces binary politics, but no party has the monopoly of wisdom. We need an inclusive politics where the best ideas serve communities in Manchester.

•                A system of Proportional Representation in which seats match votes and all votes count equally would help to rebuild trust by ensuring that all political views are represented in Parliament and at local councils in proportion to their level of public support. The systems of Proportional Representation that maintain a constituency link are best, since they mean voters will still have local representatives. Single Transferable Vote and AV+ both fulfil these criteria.

Council therefore resolves to request the Leader of the Council to:-

•                Make representations to Manchester’s MPs asking them to support a form of Proportional Representation for electing local councils and for general elections, and the return of Supplementary Vote for Mayoral elections.

•                Oppose this Conservative Government’s efforts to remove existing PR systems, and to write a letter to the Prime Minister Liz Truss condemning the removal of the supplementary vote from elections for Mayor.

Councillor Karney moved an amendment to the motion which was seconded by Councillor Simcock:-

This Council notes that the Labour Party in government successfully implemented Proportional Representation (PR) for several elections, introducing PR into devolved government for Scotland and Wales, in the London Assembly and the Supplementary vote for the Mayoral elections.

Council notes that the Liberal Democrats, as part of the Coalition Government, had an historic opportunity to change the voting system. They ditched their principles for the trappings of office, led by the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Council notes the historical discussion and decision at the Labour Party Conference and calls on members not at Conference to contribute to the debate and contact their Members of Parliament.

Resolution

The amendment to the motion was put to the Council and the Lord Mayor declared it carried. The amended motion then became the substantive motion.

The substantive motion was then put to the Council and the Lord Mayor declared it carried.

Decision

This Council:

(1)       Notes that the Labour Party in government successfully implemented Proportional Representation (PR) for several elections, introducing PR into devolved government for Scotland and Wales, in the London Assembly and the Supplementary vote for the Mayoral elections.

(2)       Notes that the Liberal Democrats, as part of the Coalition Government, had an historic opportunity to change the voting system. They ditched their principles for the trappings of office, led by the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. Council.

(3)        Notes the historical discussion and decision at the Labour Party Conference and calls on members not at Conference to contribute to the debate and contact their Members of Parliament.