Richmond Council's Leader Gareth Roberts will write to the incoming Prime Minister calling for them to back electoral reform.

The letter follows a motion at Full Council last night (Tuesday, 14 July) where councillors "highlighted the importance of different political voices and opinions being heard" – calling for the new Prime Minister to back proportional representation for local, regional and national elections.

Councillor Roberts said: "This is about fairness, standing up for all our residents and ensuring that everyone's voice – and vote – counts equally.

"We are grateful in Richmond upon Thames that so many residents voted for us [at this year's local elections], and we take seriously our responsibility to serve the whole borough, each and every resident.

"But we are also conscious that many voted for other parties and that some may feel their votes are not fully reflected in the results.

"That cannot be right. A healthy democracy depends on people feeling that their voice matters and that their vote makes a difference.

"While we have taken steps locally, here in Richmond, to make our democratic processes more representative, creating more opportunities for political debate, challenge and scrutiny, the electoral system itself remains beyond a council's control.

"That is why I will be writing to the incoming Prime Minister to urge them to support the introduction of proportional representation for local elections."

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The full motion can be found here.