Public trust in politics is at rock bottom. Understandably so.
Part of the problem is a perceived lack of honesty in Westminster. People are crying out for politicians that tell it to them straight.
The truth is that our current First Past the Post voting system is at the heart of this routine failure to level with the public.
Whether on immigration or climate change, to name but two cases, neither of the main parties is prepared to be honest with voters about the policy trade-offs, because that’s how the system incentivises them to behave. It encourages short-term tactics, not long-term strategy.
We need a better political system, underpinned by Proportional Representation (PR), that is fit for the challenges we face. Research has shown that proportional voting systems tend to produce more collaborative and consensus-based politics, and better long-term outcomes on issues like the environment, healthcare, and education.
In this moment of overlapping crises, we cannot afford to wait to repair our broken politics. The time for PR is now.
Geoff Naylor,
Birch Close,
Colden Common,
Winchester
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