Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to introduce the most significant electoral reform in the United Kingdom in over a century, aiming to implement proportional representation (PR) to ensure that all votes carry greater weight in determining parliamentary outcomes. Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Burnham outlined plans to include this reform in Labour’s next general election manifesto, arguing that the current first-past-the-post system allows governments to be formed with a small minority of the vote, undermining political stability.

Burnham emphasized the need for change following a period marked by political turbulence, noting that the UK has seen seven prime ministers in ten years and that the last Labour government, under Sir Keir Starmer, was elected with a historically low 33.7 percent of the popular vote. The proposed reform seeks to address this issue by better reflecting the distribution of voter support across parties, potentially encouraging the formation of coalition governments that include smaller parties.

The Prime Minister has proposed establishing a national commission on electoral reform, inviting all political parties to participate in a public consultation process. While no specific PR model has been confirmed, the commission would explore various systems, including those currently used for elections to the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd, and certain mayoral posts. In Scotland, for example, voters cast ballots both for individual candidates and party lists, facilitating a mixed-member proportional system. Wales employs closed-list proportional representation, with seats allocated according to party vote shares.

Internal Labour responses to the reform have been mixed. While around 100 Labour MPs supported a recent parliamentary amendment calling for an electoral review, some cabinet members expressed reservations. Skills Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith acknowledged the proposal but indicated it was not a top priority, while former Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn offered a cautious stance pending the commission's findings. Polling of MPs by YouGov suggests a modest majority in the House of Commons might back a review of first-past-the-post.

In addition to electoral reform, Burnham addressed the UK’s relationship with the European Union. He described Brexit as having inflicted economic and immigration-related harms, pointing to a decade of low growth and diminished control over migration policies due to the loss of collaboration with European partners. Although adhering to the firm “red lines” established by Starmer’s government—which rule out an immediate return to the single market, customs union, or free movement—Burnham signaled that Labour’s forthcoming manifesto could include a commitment to reconsider the UK’s EU membership.

The Prime Minister announced that the government would present “different options” regarding the long-term UK-EU relationship following an upcoming summit with Brussels officials. Proposed initiatives include a youth mobility scheme allowing under-30s from across Europe to live and work in the UK and efforts to enhance cooperation on immigration and support industries adversely affected by Brexit.

The deputy Labour leader, Louise Haigh, reinforced that Burnham would clarify Labour’s position on Europe later this year, while critics such as Richard Tice of Reform UK accused the Prime Minister of attempting to “sneak back into Brussels” and blamed the current administration for economic stagnation and immigration challenges.

As the UK prepares for a potentially closely contested general election, Burnham’s calls for electoral reform and reevaluation of Brexit-related policies highlight the party’s strategic focus on addressing the country’s political fragmentation and economic uncertainties.