Labour must accept that the two-party age is over and embrace PR | Letters

By Guardian Staff · The Guardian Opinion

Backing proportional representation would be in Labour’s interests, writes John Culley , while Austen Lynch says the greater risk is continuing with the current system Andy Beckett suggests the case for proportional representation may become irresistible ( Britain’s two-party politics is fragmenting: what unintended consequences await?, 6 November ). The strength of the case is not in doubt; the issue is lack of political will to legislate. Perhaps there is more will now than ever, with results from the 2024 general election and wide-ranging Electoral Calculus forecasts pushing parties currently against proportional representation to reconsider. Labour’s position is clearly crucial. Based on the forecasts, PR offers Labour a hedge against a doomsday scenario of losing up to 90% of its seats. All those who favour change must hope that Labour’s leadership, even if they do not support electoral reform in principle, will adopt it for pragmatic reasons, closing their minds to conventional wisdom that voting for change is like turkeys voting for Christmas. In any event, Christmas will arrive; the central issue is how happy it will be for those formerly known as “the two main parties”. John Culley Barcombe, East Sussex Continue reading...