Make Votes Matter Exeter campaigners call for reform of electoral system

On Saturday 22 August the Exeter branch of the Women’s Equality Party, supporters of Make Votes Matter, took part in a nationwide Day of Action to highlight the growing local concern about the UK’s current First Past The Post voting system.

Members of the branch demonstrated with placards and banners, pressing for the need for Proportional Representation in general elections. The Exeter group undertook a socially distanced rally at the city’s historic Guildhall, where the full city council met until March this year, posting campaign photos on social media.

Demanding equal votes for all, the Exeter branch of the Women’s Equality Party is part of Make Votes Matter, a national, cross-party campaign advocating Proportional Representation (PR) for UK House of Commons elections.

Local supporter and co-Branch Leader Kate Fox said: “The first-past-the-post system has been proven globally to exclude women and minorities. It also encourages progressives to fight each other. It is a system that demands huge resources and is unnecessarily expensive, issues that become even more acute for smaller parties in a snap election. For all of these reasons, the Women’s Equality Party advocates for a fairer proportional system and hopes this day of action can showcase public belief in the need for long overdue electoral reform.”

Emma Knaggs, Grassroots Leader at Make Votes Matter, said: “Our First Past the Post voting system means Parliament does not reflect how the UK voted. The government has a landslide majority of seats, but this is despite the Conservatives receiving less than 44% of the votes.

“We need to change to a system of Proportional Representation so votes count equally, and so governments represent the diversity of people and views in our communities and society. It’s absolutely critical to people’s participation and faith in democracy.

“The response to our Make Votes Matter Day of Action campaign has been fantastic, with people overcoming the current Covid-19 restrictions safely by picking up placards and taking pictures at local landmarks across the UK. The interest in our campaign shows the growing appetite for change amongst the electorate.”

A petition calling for MPs to support Proportional Representation can be viewed here https://www.makevotesmatter.org.uk/sign-petition