Has the Moment for Electoral Reform at Westminster Finally Arrived?

Abstract The rise to power of Andy Burnham, a vocal critic of first past the post, has put Westminster electoral reform back on the political agenda. This article examines the case for reforming the voting system, why it has strengthened in recent years, why efforts have failed before and what this tells us about the necessary conditions for reform: a legislative majority for change in principle, a legislative majority for a specific change proposal and a means for securing public consent. With the chances of meeting all three conditions looking higher now than at any point for generations, I set out some plausible scenarios whereby electoral reform may happen and offer some thoughts on what effects it might have.