Burnham wants to change British elections. Voters think they’re fine as is.

Andy Burnham aims to convince Britons that the U.K. should alter its method of electing MPs, according to a recent POLITICO Poll. The prime minister has pledged to propose changes to the first-past-the-post voting system, which has been utilized in British general elections since 1884, with the aim of enhancing political stability and fairness for all voters.

However, a survey conducted by Public First, a polling firm, prior to Burnham's announcement, revealed that 57% of respondents considered first-past-the-post as either "mostly" or "completely" fair for determining elections. A majority of voters across various parties share this perspective. Seb Wride, head of polling at Public First, elaborated that "most people don't spend much time thinking about how we elect MPs and, broadly, people think the current system is fair."

Under the first-past-the-post system, the candidate who secures the most votes in their constituency is elected to represent that seat, even if they receive less than 50% of the votes. This can lead to a party gaining power with relatively low public support. In the most recent election in 2024, Labour secured 63% of seats in Parliament with only 34% of the vote, the most uneven distribution in British history.

This has led some projections to suggest that Nigel Farage’s populist-right Reform UK party could win a majority with around 30% of votes under the first-past-the-post system. Burnham, who is the country's seventh prime minister in the past decade, argued during a speech in Liverpool to Labour members that recent political turmoil necessitates a new voting system.

He stated, "We will all have failed in our public duties if we carry on as we are and open the door of No. 10 to a divisive government on less than 30% of the vote."

The survey conducted by Public First also indicated potential openness to a system of proportional representation, in which the number of parliamentary seats each party receives is more closely tied to the total number of votes it garners nationwide. Wride noted, "Most people don't spend much time thinking about how we elect MPs and, broadly, people think the current system is fair."

However, Burnham will need to provide a compelling case to voters to support his plans for electoral reform. The current system allows a candidate to win a seat with less than a majority of local votes, potentially resulting in a party taking office with minimal popular backing. The Labour party recently won a landslide victory, securing 63% of seats in Parliament with just 34% of the votes.

Various electoral systems could potentially replace first-past-the-post, many based on a form of proportional representation (PR). According to the poll, support for transitioning to PR differs depending on the party proposing it. When Labour voters were presented with a Labour proposal to move to PR, 54% of respondents supported the idea, whereas only 36% backed the same proposal if it were attributed to Reform UK.

The same pattern was observed among Reform voters. Overall, 41% of U.K. adults surveyed indicated they would "somewhat" or "strongly support" a Labour proposal to move towards PR. Another 26% either showed no preference or were opposed, while 22% somewhat opposed or strongly opposed the idea.

While Burnham's pledge to reform the electoral system could potentially strengthen his position in power, there is still significant time remaining before the next election, which could take place as late as 2029. Presently, polls predict a hung parliament, with Labour falling short of a majority. The Liberal Democrats have long advocated for electoral reform and would likely serve as Labour's most probable coalition partner.

Farage has also expressed support for replacing first-past-the-post with an alternative voting system, but has recently shown less interest in the topic. Some sources suggest that Burnham's team favors the "supplementary vote" system, which is employed in Greater Manchester mayoral elections. This system enables voters to select a second preference, with those votes being counted if the leading candidate does not obtain at least 50% of first preference votes.

Additionally, a government official emphasized that any new voting system should include a "constituency link" for Burnham, as he believes it would enhance the political process. In an interview with the BBC, Burnham stated, "I found it better being elected under a different system as mayor of Greater Manchester where people had one or two — they could put that on the ballot paper.

Because you had a reason to stop on every doorstep and chat to people who might not always support your party and try and get their second preference. It just led to a better politics."