Totnes and local area campaigners for voting reform are taking to the streets on Friday July 4 and Saturday July 5 to mark a year since the 2024 General Election that saw millions of voters unrepresented.
On Friday July 4, we are hoping that as many supporters as possible can join us for a photo with Totnes Town Mayor, Tim Bennett, outside the Guildhall, Totnes, TQ9 5QH at 11am. We are hoping to make this more coordinated by, as far as wardrobes allow, asking people to dress in MVM colours….i.e. purple, white and green. We will have flyers, posters and other items which people might like to take away and distribute.
On Saturday July 5, we are holding a street stall between 10am and 1pm outside the Mansion, Totnes, TQ9 5RP. Do come and join us…even if only to say hello.
The events are organised by Totnes local group, part of Make Votes Matter (MVM), a national, cross-party campaign advocating Proportional Representation for Westminster elections.
The event is taking place as part of a nationwide Democracy Action Weekend, in which campaigners in many towns and cities will participate in rallies, meetings and leafleting sessions in support of electoral reform.
Laurie Taylor, of MVM Totnes, argues that, with trust in politics at catastrophic lows, our democracy can no longer survive our existing First Past The Post (FPTP) voting system. He says:
“With millions of voters turning away from two-party politics, there is every chance that in 2029 we could wake up to a government elected on less than 30 per cent of the public vote. We cannot afford to let this continue. The need for electoral reform is more urgent than ever.”
Barbara Smith, co-founder of Totnes group says:
“I am very concerned about our democracy. In all countries with PR everyone’s vote counts as the number of MPs in their Parliaments is equal to the proportion of votes which each party receives. And with cross-party collaborative politics rather than the adversarial shouting and jeering that we have in the Commons we will tend towards more stable and longer term policy making, less income inequality, more women in parliament, better care for the environment…and more.”
Campaigners argue that FPTP distorts public opinion, leaving millions of voters unrepresented. The demand for voting system reform is backed by more than 150 Parliamentarians, who have joined the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Fair Elections, making it the biggest active APPG in Westminster. It’s time for a politics reflective of the people, in which all votes are counted and all voices are heard.
Our MP, Caroline Voaden, is unable to join us on Friday at the Guildhall.
She supports us wholeheartedly, and says:
“Last year’s election results, while hugely successful for the Liberal Democrats, show how disproportionate our voting system is. We believe that every vote should count equally, and the only way to do this is to have a proportional system. This is particularly important as we transition away from the traditional two-party system toward four- or five-party politics.
“To have a government with a huge majority elected on just 34 per cent of the national vote doesn’t serve anyone. While a PR system would likely produce coalition governments, I believe it would also lead to more constructive and collaborative political conversations, which, even if they are difficult, will ultimately result in better, more representative policy making.”
Totnes MVM are a welcoming group who organise regular meetings and campaign activities in and around Totnes. We can also supply a speaker for your group or organisation. If you are interested in joining us, email: mvmtotnesandsouthdevon@gmail.com
