I was at the purple people rally last Saturday. It was something truly special. I may be naïve, but after years working in the not for profit sector to often little avail it felt like the first genuine intervention of the people in a spontaneous outpouring of anger and desire for justice.
The result? Electoral reform is on the table, even if only in the form of a AV referendum this is a massive achievement for all those who have suffered for years or decades from the vagaries of our ridiculous voting system. Now let’s start pushing for more.
After the London rally and 6 others last Saturday, this Saturday sees over thirty taking place across the UK, from Penzance to Paisley. Join us.
I truly hope this next set of rallies marks the beginning of a broader, deeper grassroots movement which can take on the entrenched interests which have lumbered us with an archaic voting system long past the time when it should have been ditched.
It certainly feels at the moment like that this hope can be realised. The Take Back Parliament coalition has triggered the biggest and most widespread set of rallies for democracy since the suffragettes. It seems that finally electoral reformers have moved out of the dusty corridors of thinktanks and university departments into mainstream popular mobilisation.
I hope you will be there to join us at this moment either in London – at 2pm in College Green, Westminster - or one of the 30-plus rallies happening around the country. As ever, wear purple and make some noise for electoral reform!
