On Tuesday 16 May, Liberal Democrat, Green, and Independent Councillors met to discuss forming an administration for East Suffolk Council. All of us are eager to deliver a more democratic and transparent Council, as well as a fairer and greener Suffolk.

I’m particularly pleased, not least because the only way we can deliver change in society is by working together in a grownup and collegiate manner.  Our national politics would benefit greatly if parties worked together in consensus for the good of all.

Of course, for that to happen we need a fairer voting system. First Past the Post breeds division and enables a minority of votes to determine the outcome.

As John Stuart Mill remarked, “the voters who are on a different side in party politics from the local majority are unrepresented… [This system] is diametrically opposed to the first principle of democracy, representation in proportion to numbers.”

– John Stuart Mill in Considerations on Representative Government (1861)

In many ways, it is a tragedy that his statement is as true today as it was in 1861. British democracy remains trapped between the narrow interests of two political parties, intent on preserving power for themselves.

A proportional representation system, used by many countries across Europe, would ensure everybody’s vote counted and compel parties to work together. We need to end tribalism, we need to end the tyranny of the minority. We need a modern democracy, fit for Britain. 

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