MVC response to Power Inquiry report

News Release 27 Feb 2006

Voting reform strongly recommended by independent inquiry into Britain’s democracy. Power Inquiry report concludes: "the current way of doing politics is killing politics"

 Make Votes Count – the voting reform umbrella group – celebrates today’s publication of the final report of the Power Inquiry. It is a significant milestone in winning the argument that electoral reform is a necessary step towards revitalising our democracy. The report highlights the harmful effect that the current first-past-the-post system has on voter turnout and engagement, and recommends a change to a more "responsive" system as part of a package of measures to increase political participation.

Responding to the Power Inquiry’s findings, Malcolm Clark, co-ordinator of Make Votes Count, said:

"The simple message that emerges strongly from the report is that if people feel that their vote will count, they will turn out; if they feel that their vote does not matter or their voice will not be heard, they won’t participate. From the voter’s point of view, if the seats parties won broadly reflected the votes cast, it would shake up elections and make them more interesting; giving increased choice over who to vote for and a much higher likelihood of affecting the result."

"We were pleased that the report dispels the myth that low turnout is merely a sign of apathy or a contented electorate. Instead, non-voting is often a perfectly rational response to living in a seat where voting will not be seen to make a difference or where the choice between candidates doesn’t necessarily reflect the spread of opinions that people hold."

"The report repeatedly highlights how people’s expectations of and interaction with the political process have moved on, but our institutions have not. The voting system affects the type of politics we have and the type of campaigning that takes place. A system that reflected the votes cast would better reflect the more diverse and pluralistic society we have become, and encourage a more consensual approach from politicians."

"After last year’s general election, people across the country have become engaged in a vibrant debate about how the way we vote influences the health of our democracy. The Power Inquiry report echoes this groundswell for voting reform and provides academic evidence to support the movement’s claims."

In an additional boost to the campaign, Gordon Brown has signalled he is prepared to reopen the debate on electoral reform for the House of Commons. He writes in today’s Guardian that "the Power report opens the way to renewed debate on issues from the role of parties and electoral reform to voting at 16".

Looking forward to how the Power Inquiry’s recommendations could be implemented, Malcolm Clark commented that:

"Make Votes Count is keen that initiatives aimed at empowering people locally should not obscure the need to improve representative democracy. The report recognised the crucial role of voting and thus attached special weight to measures – such as electoral reform – that would encourage a larger number of people to feel it was worth doing."

"Ownership of the electoral system should be in the hands of the people. That is why we welcome the report’s examination of British Columbia’s Citizen’s Assembly on Electoral Reform. Innovations like that and those proposed in David Chaytor MP’s Electoral Systems Bill, due to get its Second Reading in the House of Commons in June, should be encouraged."

"The importance the Power Inquiry attached to seeking the views and active involvement of the public is in sharp contrast to the Government’s own closed review of electoral systems that it is currently conducting. Make Votes Count is calling for the Department for Constitutional Affairs to emulate the Inquiry’s exemplary practice and open up its review to public consultation."

Notes to editors:

1. Make Votes Count is at the forefront of making the positive case for electoral reform – fairness to voters, greater voter choice and stronger, more consensual government. 

2. Make Votes Count has brought together all the organisations campaigning for reform, these are: Charter88, Christian Socialist Movement, Conservative Action for Electoral Reform, Electoral Reform Society, Fawcett Society, Green Party, Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform, the Liberal Democrats, New Politics Network, Plaid Cymru and X-Change. Make Votes Count also has over ten thousand individual supporters.

3. Detailed briefings on the voting system and the voting reform campaign are available on the campaign website www.makemyvotecount.org.uk

4. Power to the People is the final report of Power: an independent Inquiry into Britain's democracy. The report was published on 27 February 2006. www.powerinquiry.org

5. The Power Inquiry was set up in 2004 to explore how political participation and involvement can be increased and deepened in Britain. Power was established by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust Limited, to mark their centenary year.

Make Votes Count media contacts:

Malcolm Clark (Co-ordinator) mobile 07733322148 office 020 7928 2076
Mary Southcott (Director) mobile 07712511931

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