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26
Jan 2023
Campaigners call for North Yorkshire Council to embrace proportional representation
Campaigners are calling on North Yorkshire Council to become the first local authority in England to reject the first-past-the-post electoral system.
Cllr Chris Aldred, a Liberal Democrat representing High Harrogate, has proposed a notice of motion calling on the council to press the UK government to enable proportional representation to be used for general, local and mayoral elections.
Executive members of the unitary council’s forerunner, North Yorkshire County Council, will consider Cllr Aldred's proposal next month.
The move comes two months after Richmondshire District Council resolved to lobby the government to “end minority rule” after members highlighted how proportional representation systems were already being used to elect the parliaments and assemblies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
North Yorkshire-based campaign groups, including Compass, say while the first-past-the-post system originated when land-owning aristocrats dominated parliament and voting was restricted to property-owning men, proportional representation would ensure all votes count, have equal value, and those seats won match votes cast.
They say with MPs and councillors better reflecting their communities, there would be improved decision-making, wider participation and increased levels of ownership of decisions taken.
Electoral campaigners say given the volume of votes which have effectively been ignored at County Hall, the “relatively weak electoral accountability” of the authority has an impact on public procurement, as, without sufficient critical oversight, costs can spiral out of control.
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Campaigners highlight that at the last general election just 41% of the votes in North Yorkshire constituencies were for Conservative candidates but under the first-past-the-post system the Tories secured all seven seats.
Campaigner Georgie Sale said while numerous councils were considering the issue, North Yorkshire’s council should show leadership and embrace a fair and modern voting system.
She said:
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