In the UK, for too long many people have felt like their vote simply doesn't count. That they have to vote tactically in order to stop the party they don't want from getting "first past the post" (FPTP). That the political system is broken. And I agree. But change can happen if we change the criteria for electoral success. Given that the Conservatives have held power for more time over the past 100 years using the current system, it doesn't make sense for them in terms of their personal agenda to change how things work. Their personal agenda does not necessarily match with the welfare of the country though. For a fairer politics that listens to everybody's vote, how parties are elected desperately needs changing. Proportional Representation (PR) is the answer. 

So what is the actual issue? Well, we live in a country that constantly elects parties that the majority do not actually want. This is because the UK is a left-wing country. Despite this, the political system we currently have places the Conservatives in power, which the majority of the population has not voted for. When considering parties that all of the UK can vote for, this is evidenced by right-wing parties gaining 45.7% of the votes (Cons [43.6%], Brexit Party [2%] and UKIP [0.1%]), compared to left-wing parties gaining 46.4% of the votes (Labour [32.2%], Lib Dem [11.5%], Green Party [2.7%]). This trend is repeated with an even bigger swing to left-wing parties in 2017, which was the first UK general election since the Brexit referendum.

The UK currently implements the FPTP system, where the party that exceeds a specified target in the seats they achieve in general elections are elected as party in power. This means that collaboration is not fostered between parties. PR would give seats in parliament based on the share of the vote, not based on which party passes an arbitrary goal. No single party has the best answer; it is only through collaboration that optimal solutions can be achieved that considers all individuals. Only by coming together can we achieve a sustainable society that provides a fairer economy, fairer environment, and fairer social setting.

The vote was held in the past to assess whether people wanted FPTP or PR, but that was in a time where politics was still a two-party game. It is no longer just about Labour and Conservatives. We have the left that is fractured between many parties, whereas the right is less fractured. This is why FPTP will favour the Conservatives, given that they have always gained the greatest share of the votes for the right, whereas people that want to vote for left-wing parties have a share of the votes that is diluted.

As a country, we deserve better governing. The old system needs changing. You can help by signing this petition to force the government to finally consider the country's welfare in this matter rather than focusing on their self-interest.