Does a Burnham PM mean PR's time has come?

Does a Burnham PM mean PR's time has come?

From The Rundown by PoliticsHome by PoliticsHome

May 29, 2026 · 37 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of Andy Burnham's potential premiership on electoral reform and proportional representation.

As Westminster watchers try to work out what Andy Burnham’s ‘Manchesterism’ agenda might mean for the country if he wins the Makerfield by-election and becomes Prime Minister, this week host Alain Tolhurst looks at what it might mean for our democracy, given his strongly and long-held views about electoral reform. So to discuss whether PR’s time might have finally come under a Burnham premiership, or whether it will be lost along the wayside once more, are the Labour MP Alex Sobel , a veteran supporter for ditching first past the post for general elections, as well as Olly Glover , the Lib Dem MP for Didcot and Wantage, whose party has long campaigned for reform. Alongside them are Emma Harrison , CEO of the campaign group Make Votes Matter , and Darren Hughes , chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society . To sign up for our newsletters click here Presented by Alain Tolhurst, produced and edited by Ewan Cameron and Lulu Goad for Podot

People in this episode

Host: Alain Tolhurst

Guests: Alex Sobel, Olly Glover, Emma Harrison, Darren Hughes

Topics covered

  • electoral reform
  • Andy Burnham
  • politics
  • democracy
  • by-election
  • first past the post
  • PR

Keywords

  • Burnham
  • proportional representation
  • by-election
  • electoral reform
  • democracy
  • Labour
  • Lib Dem
  • first past the post

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Make Votes Matter, Electoral Reform Society, Labour, Lib Dem

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