Ripe for Change: Seizing the Opportunity for Electoral Reform

Outgoing LDER President Sarah Olney reflects on the last year and looks ahead to exciting times for electoral reform.

The last year has been a busy year for electoral reform. Throughout the year, Liberal Democrats for Electoral Reform (LDER) have continued to be a powerful voice keeping the issue of electoral reform at the heart of the Liberal Democrats.

In particular I would like to note the historic December 2024 vote, where MPs voted on my 10-Minute Rule Bill supporting Proportional Representation (PR) – the first ever time that Parliament voted to support PR.

I have also been proud to lead on the Hereditary Peers’ passage through Parliament, which is now expected to finally end the hereditary system of peerages in our Parliament: a meaningful step towards giving the House of Lords a proper democratic mandate.

Following a reshuffling of responsibilities in the Lib Dem frontbench, I am pleased that my colleague Lisa Smart has taken on the role of spokesperson for the Cabinet Office. Over the past year, Lisa has done a fantastic job as Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Elections - a cross-party effort to promote proportional representation for
Westminster and to combat dark money and disinformation in politics. She is perfectly placed to take up the mantle!

I am equally delighted that my colleague Olly Glover MP, will step in as President of LDER. With the most pro-PR parliament in history, an overwhelmingly pro-PR parliamentary Labour Party and an increasingly fragmented political landscape, the conditions may finally be ripe for change.

The upcoming Elections Bill, in particular, will be a fantastic opportunity to make progress on issues including Votes at 16, voter ID and wider electoral reform, and I have full trust in Lisa, Olly and the wider Lib Dem team, to lead the party on this agenda. As one of our 72 pro-PR Members of Parliament, I will continue to champion these issues.

I would like to thank the LDER team, in particular Sarah Lewis and Keith Sharp, for their continued dedication and support.

LDER President,
Sarah Olney MP