Dear John,
Angela Rayner's resignation as Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party has sent shockwaves through Westminster. But hidden within this political and personal crisis lies an extraordinary opportunity for democratic renewal - one that could transform both Labour's fortunes and Britain's broken electoral system.
Just four days before Rayner's departure, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Elections published comprehensive Terms of Reference for a National Commission on Electoral Reform. The convergence of these events opens an extraordinary window at precisely the moment when Keir Starmer needs a bold new direction.
Labour has been trapped in an unproductive phase of government, bleeding support both to Reform UK and parties on the left. Under our broken first-past-the-post system, Nigel Farage's party could soon secure a parliamentary majority with fewer than three voters in ten - a democratic perversion that Labour has thus far inexplicably failed to address despite fully understanding its corrosive effects.
Rayner's resignation, while personally painful for a politician of undoubted talent, creates the perfect political space for this transformative pivot. The tectonic shift at the top of government allows Starmer to shed the image of a party paralysed by the winds of change around him, and instead seize the mantle of a party with bold democratic ambition.
The plan for a National Commission on Electoral Reform is ready to go. Within twelve months of launch, it would deliver a rigorously evidenced recommendation to replace our discredited system with one that ensures every vote counts equally. For democracy, this means restoring faith in politics and ending the tyranny of tactical voting. For Labour, it means neutralising Reform UK's structural advantage whilst championing a cause that 60% of the British public supports.
The infrastructure already exists. The APPG for Fair Elections has become the largest such group in Westminster, with more than 150 MPs and Peers backing immediate action. Open Britain and our partners in Fair Vote UK have provided a blueprint endorsed by constitutional experts. Cross-party support is secured. A new Deputy Prime Minister could be a significant champion of democratic renewal.
This is Starmer's moment to move from lacklustre technocratic competence to inspiring and transformative leadership. Instead of firefighting scandals, Labour could be building Britain's democratic future. The reshuffling of Labour's top team provides not just new personnel, but the opportunity for new priorities that could define this government's legacy.
In the coming days and weeks, Open Britain will be doing everything we can to ensure this opportunity is not lost. The moment demands courage, vision, and action. Britain's democracy hangs in the balance - and Starmer holds the key. As always, you can add power to our elbow by making a donation using the pink button below.
Many thanks for your support, especially at this crucial moment.
