Story perspectives

Burnham Launches National Electoral Reform Commission, MPs Back It

By Drooid · Oct 1, 2026, 4:58 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a national commission on electoral reform at Labour's conference in Liverpool.
More than 180 MPs backed the amendment, the largest support since the last election.
A Survation poll for LabourList found two-thirds of members support the commission.
The British Social Attitudes survey shows 53% of the public back proportional representation.
Electoral reform campaigners welcomed the move, citing mixed-member proportional systems in Scotland and Wales.

History

Historical Context

In the 1997 devolution referendum Scotland adopted the Scotland Act (1998), and on 6 May 1999 the first Scottish Parliament used a mixed-member system—73 constituency seats plus 56 regional seats—giving Labour 56 seats and prompting a Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition under Donald Dewar. Andy Burnham’s 2024 call for a UK electoral-reform commission echoes that 1999 shift toward proportional representation.

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Story summary

Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a national commission on electoral reform at Labour's conference in Liverpool.
More than 180 MPs backed the amendment, the largest support since the last election.
A Survation poll for LabourList found two-thirds of members support the commission.
The British Social Attitudes survey shows 53% of the public back proportional representation.
Electoral reform campaigners welcomed the move, citing mixed-member proportional systems in Scotland and Wales.

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