Biggest APPG milestone & parliamentary reception

The APPG for Fair Elections is pleased to announce that we are now the largest all-party group in Westminster, with over 150 members and over 130 MPs, underlining the strength and breadth of support for our objectives across Parliament.

We celebrated this milestone at a parliamentary reception on Tuesday 13 May – Strengthening democracy in an age of volatility – at which we heard from officers, guest speakers, and MPs from across the House.

Watch the full speeches

“We’re now the biggest APPG in Parliament and the public supports our call for a National Commission for Electoral Reform by a margin of five to one. The government should listen and act.”💬 @alexsobel.co.uk, Chair of @appgfairelections.bsky.social🧵 1/3www.politics.co.uk/news/2025/05…

— APPG for Fair Elections (@appgfairelections.bsky.social) 2025-05-09T08:34:54.990Z

"What we are calling for is a modest, first step towards addressing what everyone can see is an indefensibly broken voting system. We believe the government needs to set up a National Commission for Electoral Reform"✍️ @alexsobel.co.uk & @lizzicollinge.bsky.social

— APPG for Fair Elections (@appgfairelections.bsky.social) 2025-05-09T09:08:36.538Z

Hosting the event, APPG Vice-Chair Ellie Chowns said: “Our voting system simply cannot cope – and it needs to change. The first step is a National Commission for Electoral Reform. I hope everyone here will join us in making the case for the government to act.”

New polling shows that most people are in favour of our call for a National Commission for Electoral Reform. The public support this proposal by 5:1.

APPG Chair Alex Sobel MP said: “There are more than 130 MPs in our APPG – more than the Official Opposition. It shows the strength of support across Parliament for fair elections”.

"We have a 19th century, early 20th century system, but a 21st century electorate – and there's only so long that will hold. We are on the right side of history here."💬 Our chair @alexsobel.co.uk announcing that we're now the biggest APPG in Parliament

— APPG for Fair Elections (@appgfairelections.bsky.social) 2025-05-16T10:53:12.866Z

"It cannot accommodate fragmentation, it cannot represent parties fairly or consistently, it exacerbates chaos & it undermines mandates", says @robfordmancs.bsky.social "There is no longer any excuse for burying your head in the sand about what's going to happen under this electoral system."

— APPG for Fair Elections (@appgfairelections.bsky.social) 2025-05-17T07:24:56.869Z

📊 "We are in a five – actually six in Wales & Scotland – party system now. Our electoral system is utterly, utterly unfit for purpose in that context"💬 APPG Vice Chair @elliechowns.bsky.social🚀 "The first step is setting up that National Commission for Electoral Reform"

— APPG for Fair Elections (@appgfairelections.bsky.social) 2025-05-21T11:05:41.905Z

💰 “Donations in British politics have become more concentrated, particularly from super donors – people giving more than £100,000 per year… that is real cause for concern”💬 Parth Patel @ippr.bsky.social

— APPG for Fair Elections (@appgfairelections.bsky.social) 2025-05-25T09:10:06.657Z

🔍 “We've got to look seriously at the flaws of the current system and we've got to involve the public in the conversation”🌹 APPG member Abtisam Mohamed MP calls for a National Commission for Electoral Reform🗳️ “This has got to be about making sure that every vote counts”

— APPG for Fair Elections (@appgfairelections.bsky.social) 2025-05-24T07:01:39.054Z

Rob Ford, Professor of Politics at Manchester University, said: “We’ve now entered what I’ve described as the zone of electoral chaos. To have system that can spit out any random result like a fruit machine is not in anyone’s interest.”

Labour MP Abtisan Mohamed said: “The volatility we saw at the local elections adds urgency and strength to our arguments – but at the core or this is needing to ensure everyone is represented – that every vote matters.”

Liberal Democrat MP and APPG Member Manuela Perteghella said: “Trust in politics is faltering. More than two thirds of people support a cap on political donations. There is a perception that big money buys influence.”

Parth Patel of the Institute for Public Policy Research said: “The first steps are the sort of thing people in this APPG have been championing… the size of donations are now completely unprecedented, and more concentrated than ever.”

Labour MP and APPG Member Blair McDougall said: “The greatest weapon we have in this global fight against authoritarianism is that our arguments are better than theirs… It’s a fight we can win.”

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