Thread by @toal_alex

So, the government just made you use FPTP more. What happened, and what's next, and a few silver linings @MakeVotesMatter @DemDefCoalition (1/9)

An amendment came to the #ElectionsBill tonight to stop the government's plan to impose FPTP on mayoral/PCC elections.

It didn't pass, by a tiny margin! We lost a few Peers who had voted for other amendments, particularly due to the vote's timing (2/9)

https://twitter.com/natalieben/status/1511785274292023298

Does it suck, yes! But lots of great things happened:

First, the Labour Party came out strongly against more FPTP, with the frontbench teams in both houses voting against.

Many thanks to @CatSmithMP, @AlexNorrisNN and @SueHayman1 for leading on this.

labourlist.org/2022/02/fight-…

Of course, Labour being against FPTP should not overshadow the work of the Lib Dems, the Greens, Plaid Cymru, SNP and Crossbenchers in trying to improve the Bill, including amendments to introduce PR at Westminster elections, and a citizens assembly on voting systems. (4/9)

And this cross-party support was reflected at the huge variety of speakers at the rally we organised against the Elections Bill in February! Thank you so much to @ZackPolanski, @HinaBokhariLD, @PutneyFleur, and many others for speaking! (5/9)

https://twitter.com/MakeVotesMatter/status/1499726781435285511

Add to this that 13 mayors, including @AndyBurnhamGM, @TracyBrabin and @MayorJD, signed MVM's open letter against the change! (6/9)

makevotesmatter.org.uk/news/2022/3/17…

AND we found out that Priti Patel has done polling and focus groups on voting systems, but is refusing to release them. I wonder why...👀 (7/9)

makevotesmatter.org.uk/priti-patel-pe…

In terms of what's next, we keep on campaigning! Polling shows that PR is more popular than ever, and policymakers can't keep on ignoring this. (8/9)

yougov.co.uk/topics/politic…

So many peers worked tirelessly to oppose this. Thank you so much to @natalieben, @SirBobKerslake, @GreenJennyJones, @premnsikka and many others who fought to #MakeVotesMatter in this Bill.

And thank you to all the MVM supporters who lobbied too! (9/9)

theguardian.com/commentisfree/…