Laura Sharman William Eichler 03 July 2019

Alliance calls for voting reforms to fix 'failing' system

Political parties and civil society groups have signed the Good Systems Agreement calling for reforms to the UK's voting system.

The agreement, prepared by Making Votes Matter, calls for the first-past-the-post system to be replaced with proportional representation.

The Green Party, Lib Dems, the Brexit Party, Plaid Cymru, SNP and the Women's Equality Party are calling for a citizens' assembly to be set up to develop the new system.

Cllr Jonathan Bartley co-leader of the Green Party? said: 'It is very tempting to blame individuals for the disastrous state of Britain today, the Brexit chaos, the poverty and inequality, the insecurity and mental health crisis, the dreadful state of our natural world and the climate chaos. But it is clear that the failure is systemic.'

Speaking at the LGA annual conference, Cllr Bartley said there needs to be a 'radical' shift of power to tackle the challenges facing Britain today.

'Local government is not democratic because it isn't allowed to be by central Government,' he said.

He joined the call for a 'fairer' voting system at a local level, backed up by a written constitution.

He also said democracy used to be called Localism until Eric Pickles 'derided the word into oblivion'.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Early Years Entitlement and Sufficiency Officer

City of York Council
Grade 7 Level 1 - 4 (£29,230 to £31,391 per annum) reduced pro-rata
Are you experienced in Early Years Education Funding and looking for a new challenge? York, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: City of York Council

Administration Apprentice

Essex County Council
Up to £12348 per annum
Administration ApprenticeFixed Term, Full Time£12,348 per annum rising to £22,072 per annum on the second yearLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Head of Finance (Deputy S151 Officer)

Babergh & Mid Suffolk
£60,757 - £73,775 (plus national pay award)
Together we are building a more resilient, sustainable future. Suffolk
Recuriter: Babergh & Mid Suffolk

Community Care Business Unit Assistant

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Band D, SCP 9 -17 (£25,119 - £28,770 per annum)
An opportunity has become available for four Community Care Business Unit Assistants, based in Finance. Sandwell, West Midlands
Recuriter: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Social Worker

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
£36,426 - £49,503 per annum

Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Linkedin Banner

Partner Content

Circular highways is a necessity not an aspiration – and it’s within our grasp

Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.

Support from Effective Energy Group for Local Authorities to Deliver £430m Sustainable Warmth Funded Energy Efficiency Projects

Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.

Pay.UK – the next step in Bacs’ evolution

Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.