Large numbers of Constituency Labour Parties have already passed motions in favour of Proportional Representation.

Following the general election, we're asking all CLPs - even those which already have policy on PR - to convene another meeting on voting reform and discuss a motion on PR. This will:

  • Confirm your CLP's ongoing support for voting reform
  • Keep the issue live for members (particularly new members)
  • Send a strong signal to MPs that this is still an issue of great importance to Labour members
  • Enable your CLP to respond swiftly and decisively to policy consultations.

Drafting a resolution

If you are submitting a motion to national conference, you should definitely follow a model resolution because this makes things so much easier at the compositing stage. For other purposes, it's fine to use a model resolution but it's generally better to write your own - in particular, Labour's NEC and National Policy Forum are likely to attach more weight to a large number of resolutions if they are differently worded.  

If writing your own resolution, we would encourage you to: 

  • Keep it brief - a short motion is generally better received, and 600 words is the limit for online submissions to the National Policy Forum.
  • Refer to the resolution passed by Labour's 2022 Conference.
  • Note that as well as being unfair, FPTP is also unstable, with the possibility of small changes in vote share giving rise to sweeping changes in the composition of parliament and the danger of a far-right government.
  • Call for the immediate establishment of a National Commission to choose a new voting system.

When your resolution has been passed, please: 

  • Email us with the name of your organisation, the text of the resolution you passed, and the date when it was passed.
  • Send your motion to the National Policy Forum and the National Executive Committee, as well as your own and neighbouring Labour MPs. 

Sample resolution for Labour Party branches and CLPs

[Name of CLP or Branch]:

  • Notes the overwhelming support among Labour Party members and affiliated Trade Unions for replacing the UK's First Past the Post voting system with a system of proportional representation, as evidenced by repeated opinion polls and the vote in favour of PR at the 2022 Labour Party Conference.
  • Notes the fact that a change in the voting system is also supported by a majority of the electorate.
  • Supports the principle that in any election all votes should count, and seats should be allocated broadly in line with the votes cast.
  • Welcomes the commitment in Labour's 2024 election manifesto to a suite of democratic reforms; but believes that many of these will only be fully effective if underpinned by a proportional voting system for Westminster. For example, extending the vote to 16- and 17-year-olds will only be fully effective if these new voters can expect their votes to make a difference.
  • Calls upon the Labour government to implement the recommendations of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Elections, and in particular to set up a National Commission to investigate and consult on the best means of introducing a proportional voting system for the House of Commons.
  • Encourages members of this CLP to join Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform as full subscribing members.

Trade Union Branches and Regions

If you are a trade unionist planning a debate on voting reform, please get in touch with our friends at Politics for the Many, the trade union campaign for democratic reform.

As well as advising on model resolutions, they are able to supply speakers to branch or regional meetings or other events.

Conference Resolutions

Model resolution on establishing a National Commission on Electoral Reform

Labour for a New Democracy is promoting the motion below, which focuses on establishing a National Commission to choose a new voting system, for the 2026 Labour Party Conference. If your CLP will be meeting before the 17 September deadline for submitting motions, and has not already submitted a motion to Conference, please consider submitting this motion.

In 2023, the Labour Party adopted official policy recognising that "the flaws in the current voting system are contributing to the distrust and alienation we see in politics". This year, election experts warned First Past the Post is under greater strain than ever - risking unrepresentative results, political instability, growing distrust, and undermining of our democracy. Millions know their votes do not count.
With the overwhelming backing of affiliated unions and CLPs, Conference already carried a motion backing Proportional Representation for general elections and calling for “an open and inclusive process” to choose a new voting system. The Prime Minister, who says “PR’s time has definitely come”, has endorsed such a process: a National Commission on Electoral Reform.
Recent events have demonstrated unprecedented support for this proposal. On 8 August a poll found two-thirds of Labour members want a National Commission. An amendment to September’s Representation of the People Bill calling for a National Commission has been signed by more MPs than any other amendment this parliament, most of them Labour MPs.
With the Parliamentary Labour Party’s backing, there is now strong agreement across the whole Labour movement that the voting system must be addressed. To build consensus across Labour, Parliament and the public about what should replace it, we need a National Commission.
Conference resolves that the Labour Government should take a first step towards a fair voting system for general elections, by launching a National Commission on Electoral Reform within the Prime Minister’s first 100 days.

For reference, here's the full text of the motion passed by the 2022 Labour Party Conference.

Composite 8 - ELECTORAL REFORM

Our political system has catastrophically failed to represent people's wishes, needs and votes.

No one voted for housing food, heating or transport to be beyond the means of ordinary people.

No one voted for our health, education and justice systems to be underfunded past breaking point. To build a better society address distrust and alienation in politics and to safeguard the union, everyone must have an equal voice.

First Past the Post (FPTP) does long-term damage to the health of our democracy. Labour must commit to fixing it.

In the 2019 General Election, there were: 38,264 votes for every Tory MP elected; 50,836 for every Labour MP, 25,882 for every SNP MP.

Devolution was a major achievement of the last Labour government. Labour is already committed to extending democracy, from strengthening devolution to Lords reform.

But our democratic system will remain broken - until we replace FPTP with a form of Proportional Representation.

There are systems of PR that retain a strong constituency link between MPs and their electorates, while ensuring that votes count equally and seats match votes.

Conference resolves that:

  • Labour must make a commitment to introduce Proportional Representation for general elections in the next manifesto.
  • During its first term in office the next Labour government must change the voting system for general elections to a form of PR.
  • Labour should convene an open and inclusive process to decide the specific proportional voting system it will introduce.

Mover: Ashford CLP
Seconder: North West Leicestershire CLP