Lib Dem leader urges incoming prime minister to adopt proportional representation before next election

The Liberal Democrats' leader urged the incoming prime minister to introduce proportional representation before the next general election without holding a referendum first. The leader said the party was willing to work with the incoming prime minister on changing the voting system.

The leader added that if the incoming prime minister was serious about changing politics, the door was open. The leader warned that waiting until after the next election to change the voting system might be too late.

Background on incoming prime minister's position The incoming prime minister said last year that proportional representation's time had come. During a by-election campaign last month, the incoming prime minister suggested electoral reform would not happen immediately.

Last week the incoming prime minister said efforts would be made to persuade the party to include electoral reform in its next manifesto. The incoming prime minister wrote that electoral reform would enable more collaborative politics focused on problem-solving.

Amendment and debate More than 80 members of the incoming prime minister's party have signed an amendment to the Representation of the People Bill calling for a commission on electoral reform. The amendment, backed by Liberal Democrat members and others, was tabled by a member of the incoming prime minister's party and is set for debate in the autumn.

The United Kingdom uses different voting systems, with only the Westminster Parliament and local authorities in England and Wales retaining first-past-the-post. In a speech, the Liberal Democrats' leader argued that electoral reform was key to solving everyday problems.