Election reform ‘is vital’ to ensure a more representative UK government at Westminster, says Ross-shire MP Jamie Stone
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ELECTORAL reform is the only way all people's voices will truly be heard, a Ross MP has argued.
Jamie Stone, who represents Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, was speaking after he joined Liberal Democrat colleagues at an electoral reform lobby event in Westminster's Parliament Square.
The "Sort the System" event was organised by electoral reform groups to advocate for changing the first-past-the-post voting.
Mr Stone said the existing system returns a parliamentary make-up that is not a true reflection of the public – citing the way Conservatives secured 56 per cent of seats in the last general election despite only receiving 43.6 per cent of the vote.
Critics have also long pointed to the disproportionately low number of seats won by 'smaller' parties despite a sizeable number of people voting for them – the Green parties, for instance, secured just one MP in 2019 despite receiving more than 850,000 votes across the UK.
And the Lib-Dems won just 11 seats despite receiving more than a third of the votes that were won by Labour, who wound up with 202 seats.
Mr Stone said: "In our Scottish elections, voters have much more choice and say in who they want to represent them. It ensures a more representative Parliament and prevents the risk of 'wasted votes'.
"The current voting system in Westminster leaves voters feeling disenfranchised. It is time for real change, and that change begins with electoral reform.
"Our political culture does not reflect a true democracy. We need an ecosystem where all people have a meaningful say and the chance to participate, rather than simply having two sides kicking and shouting at one another.
"Changing our voting system, in line with the rest of Europe and indeed with Scotland, would undoubtedly be a step in the right direction."
