Councillor Urges Reform of ‘Outdated and Undemocratic’ Voting System
A councillor expresses frustration over the current voting system, calling for change to ensure fair representation for all voters in Cumbria
Carlisle, Cumbria, Voting System, Proportional Representation, Electoral Reform
Carlisle: A local councillor is really fed up with the current voting system. Cllr Brian Wernham, who’s part of the Liberal Democrats, thinks the first past the post system is just plain outdated and doesn’t represent people fairly.
He wrote a letter to the News and Star, sharing his thoughts on how nearly 120,000 folks in Cumbria feel unrepresented after voting. It’s a bit wild when you think about it!
In the last election, a whopping 45,979 votes were cast, but 61% of those went to candidates other than the winner, Julie Minns. That’s a lot of wasted votes, right?
Wernham argues that if we had a proportional representation system, the results would look a lot different. He believes it’s time for a change so that every vote counts equally.
He’s not alone in this. A local campaigner, Danny Smith, echoed his sentiments, saying everyone’s vote should matter, no matter where you live. It’s all about fairness!
Support for proportional representation has been growing, especially after the last election where Labour got a huge number of seats with only 34% of the popular vote. It just doesn’t seem right to many people.
Wernham pointed out that the current system leads to millions of wasted votes, and he’s calling on Labour and Conservative leaders to wake up and recognize the need for change.
It’s a hot topic, and with the rise of parties like Reform UK and the Greens, the conversation about how we vote is only going to get louder. People want their voices heard, and they’re ready for a system that truly represents them.