Patrick Hurley

Patrick Hurley

Labour — Southport

Speaking in the House of Commons on 2 March 2026

Debate

Representation of the People Bill

Contribution

The hon. Member makes a valid point, and I hope the House listens. It is not healthy for our democracy to be like this. I am not suggesting that individual Members lack legitimacy, but that the system itself is losing the confidence of the people we represent. It is for those reasons that there is a strong case for seriously considering alternatives to the first-past-the-post system. The alternative vote, for instance, would retain the constituency link, local accountability and the principle that each area elects its own representative, but it would also ensure that those elected to this place do so with a majority of support from our voters in our constituencies and not merely a plurality.

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