Unlock Democracy

31/05/2026

Help us build a vibrant, inclusive democracy fit for the future.

Elections to Unlock Democracy’s Council are fast-approaching, and members can stand.

Will you be one of them?

Find out how to become a candidate 👇
buff.ly/59biVta

29/05/2026

More than 90 MPs have signed an amendment calling for a review of the UK's voting system.

Check if your MP is on the list:
👉️ https://buff.ly/gPPcUa6

If not, ask them to sign 👇
https://buff.ly/XCo05xZ

Last month’s elections have shown just how broken our voting system is. 70 MPs have just supported an amendment demanding a total review of this system, and a change to proportional representation. But to make an impact, we need many more. I’ve urged my MP to support it with this tool. Can you c...

28/05/2026

Are you a member of Unlock Democracy? Why not stand for election to our governing Council?

To find out more, visit our webpage 👇
https://buff.ly/G7MtvOj

26/05/2026

When the political system can’t get its own house in order, trust in democracy plummets.

Michael Crick is right to ask in The i Paper: "Voters have every right to assume that if our political parties don’t have strong internal governance, and can’t run their own operations honestly and competently, then how on earth can they govern the country effectively and with integrity?"

Why should voters believe in institutions that don’t seem able to police themselves?

This kind of pervasive distrust and disillusionment is fertile territory for a Trump-style wrecking ball that promises to smash things up.

The SNP can't run themselves – no wonder they can't run a country

26/05/2026

⌛️ Last chance to join us for part one of our webinar series with People's Powerhouse. We kick off at 6pm BST!

We'll be exploring how communities across the North of England can shape stronger, fairer & more democratic places through active listening, local leadership & people-powered change.

Find out more and sign up here 👇
https://buff.ly/1KpFYQB

24/05/2026

Veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby says First Past the Post leaves millions feeling unrepresented.

"An electoral system that absolutely doesn't reflect opinion in the country."

Dimbleby told Bloomberg that many voters’ sense of ‘voting and nothing happening’ is causing “huge frustration” and fuelling instability in our politics.

Credit: Mishal Husain Show, Bloomberg: https://youtu.be/bRUfIbonrjU?is

23/05/2026

The next election could break the House of Lords.

At the moment, Labour and the Conservatives hold almost 60% of Lords seats. Reform and the Greens combined hold 0.27%.

Were either Reform or the Greens - with next to no representation in the upper chamber - to take power after the next election, the Lords will be in an unsustainable position.

Resist the elected government, and the Lords looks all the more illegitimate.

Comply, and it becomes redundant.

Removing hereditary peers won't go far enough to give the Lords legitimacy.

22/05/2026

Many would-be disabled MPs face unnecessarily high barriers to standing for election.

Disabled people make up, by some measures, 24% of the population, but only 1.85% of MPs.

That's why we're backing amendment NC1 to the Representation of the People Bill, which would create an Access to Elected Office Fund in England (Wales & Scotland already have similar schemes).

Passing amendment NC1 would help disabled candidates cover disability-related costs and make our democracy more inclusive.

Ask your MP to add their name 👇
https://buff.ly/fKnZ3yh

21/05/2026

"What did the billionaire lining his pockets ask for in return?"

At PMQs, Keir Starmer raised the obvious question about Nigel Farage’s receipt of a £5m gift.

But if big money buys influence, surely no party or politician should accept mega donations?

Better yet, stop them at source: cap donations across the board.

21/05/2026

Automatic voter registration could help lower barriers to participation & ensure politics better represents the people it serves. Our CEO spoke to The i Paper about why this change matters 👇

Around 8.5 million people could be added to the electoral register by 2029