Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, is advocating for the abolition of the first-past-the-post voting system in favor of proportional representation in UK elections. During his speech at the Labour conference on September 30, 2026, Prime Minister [Name] announced the establishment of a national commission to explore electoral reform. Burnham, a long-time supporter of proportional representation, stated that this change would ensure that 'everyone's vote counts and everyone's voice is heard.'
The shift to proportional representation is expected to increase the likelihood of smaller parties, such as the Greens, participating in a Westminster government. Burnham's proposal has raised concerns about the potential for a 'rainbow coalition' of various left-wing or nationalist parties to govern the UK.
Research conducted by the Electoral Reform Society analyzed general election results since World War II, suggesting that the UK would have lacked a majority government for over 50 years had proportional representation been in place. The analysis indicates that, under the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, Labour would have been 99 seats short of a majority in the upcoming 2024 general election.
In 2019, Boris Johnson would have also been 18 seats short of a majority under the STV system, which could have affected his ability to fulfill his Brexit commitments. The study further suggests that both the Conservative and Labour parties would have had fewer than 300 seats in the 2017 snap election under STV, potentially allowing Jeremy Corbyn to lead a minority Labour government or coalition.
The research indicates that if STV had been used in all general elections since 1945, the last majority government would have been elected in 1966 under Labour's Harold Wilson.
Under the STV system, voters rank candidates in order of preference, allowing for a broader representation of views. Candidates must achieve a specific number of votes to be elected, and excess votes are redistributed to other candidates based on voter preferences.
Despite the findings suggesting that STV would have significantly reduced the number of majority governments in the UK, Burnham emphasized that the current voting system contributes to political instability. He stated, 'Westminster prizes point-scoring over problem-solving,' and called for a new approach to governance.
The Prime Minister has not yet called for a snap general election to secure a mandate, despite previously urging the Conservative Party to do so during leadership changes. Burnham's speech highlighted the need for a new political direction, stating, 'We will all have failed in our public duties if we carry on as we are and open the door of No10 to a divisive government on 30 per cent of the vote or less.'
The Labour Party's conference had previously voted in favor of moving towards a proportional representation system in 2022, although the 2024 manifesto will focus on extending voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds and reforming the House of Lords.