The Christmas season is all about coming together, reflecting on the year we’ve just had and gathering energy for the one that awaits us. It’s about finding hope - even if, in today’s world, it often seems to be in short supply. At Make Votes Matter, we’re ending the year feeling cautiously optimistic. We’ve made so much progress: from convincing more MPs than ever before to openly advocate for fair votes, to scrapping FPTP for mayoral elections. The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Elections now includes 158 MPs and Lords - and last week it held its Annual General Meeting, discussing our plans for 2026.
Public support for PR is at a record high, and the upcoming Elections Bill will provide an opportunity to put fixing our democracy firmly on the political agenda. But more than anything, what gives us hope is seeing the work of our activists up and down the country. The people who don’t just wish for a better democracy, but go out, rain or shine, to fight for it. Your dedication, energy and creativity inspire us every day. Scroll down to see some examples of the brilliant work done by our campaigners, volunteers and local groups in recent weeks. However you’re spending the coming days, we wish you a happy and peaceful festive season. It’s an honour to have you on board. |
All I want for Christmas is a fair voting system Over the course of the past year, many thousands of you have signed petitions calling for a fair voting system. Together, we collected more than 250,000 signatures calling for change. Last week, alongside our friends at Compass, Unlock Democracy and the Electoral Reform Society, we went to deliver them to the government. Please watch and share the video: on Instagram, Facebook, X or Bluesky. At the same time, a group of MVM activists went to Chester, to the constituency office of Democracy Minister Samantha Dixon, to deliver in person over 100 Christmas cards with pro-PR messages sent to us by supporters.
“Dear Samantha Dixon, I am trying hard to convince my teenage children of the importance of democracy and citizenship, but that's harder when I have to explain that, in our democracy, some voices don't count…” |
12 Days of Democracy This month we’ve been running a social media video series called 12 Days of Democracy, featuring people such as Nadia Whittome MP, actor Jason Flemyng, campaigners Zoe Gardner, Peter Tatchell and Femi Oluwole, and many others. Every day, we open one present and reveal one great reason to support PR. Check out and share the clips on our social media channels! |
News from the grassroots MVM Totnes & South Devon hosted a brilliant event about electoral reform and the climate crisis, featuring campaigners and experts: George Monbiot, Klina Jordan, Anthea Simmons and Jonathon Porritt. The discussion was attended by over 200 people! Well done to everyone involved. Check out the press coverage here! Melodi from Young MVM, alongside other students, organised a fantastic debate about the state of our democracy at Oxford University, with our Director of Policy and Public Affairs Alberto Smith speaking in favour of PR. The event was attended by around 50 people.
Before heading to Samantha Dixon’s constituency office in Chester, campaigners from the North of England held a stall encouraging local residents to write their own messages on cards. They also performed some PR-themed Christmas carols! The action was covered in the local media including North West Bylines and News Letter.
MVM Surrey held a Christmas-themed #Pints4PR pub meeting! It looks like a lot of fun :)
MVM Sefton & West Lancs has been awarded a grant of £600 to renew the inscription on the Parbold Bottle, commemorating the 1832 Reform Act. The Act was a step forward for Britain’s democracy. The next destination is a fair electoral system so that every vote counts equally and Parliament truly represents us.
|
On our blog A step towards equality - Young MVM volunteer Marli has written about how Proportional Representation could help advance the issue of gender equality.
Welcome to the multi-party era - our CEO Emma Harrison wrote about the end of the two-party system and what it means for our democracy. |
It's giving season This Christmas season, we’re trying to raise £60,000 to scale up our campaigning ahead of the imminent Elections Bill. Hundreds of people have already contributed, but we’re still a fair way from our goal.
If you can, please contribute so that we can reach more local communities and more MPs than ever before. |
|
|
Thank you for all your support. Warmest wishes, Ana Make Votes Matter |
|
|
Make Votes Matter Copyright © 2019-2025 Make Votes Matter, all rights reserved. Make Votes Matter is a single-issue campaign for Proportional Representation in the House of Commons and encourages all parties, candidates and MPs to support PR. It does not endorse any party or candidates. Promoted by Make Votes Matter, 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, WC1N 3AX. |
|
|
|
|
.jpg)
