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User:RoseOpenBritain/Open Britain Draft

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Open Britain is a UK-based not-for-profit campaign group that advocates for democratic reform, including changes to the electoral system and increased transparency in politics. The organisation has existed under its current name and remit since 2016.[1]

Aims

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Open Britain focuses on five main objectives:

  • Pushing back against the rise of authoritarian populism
  • Encouraging more people to use their democratic rights
  • Replacing the first-past-the-post electoral system with proportional representation
  • Eliminating so-called "dark money" from UK politics
  • Countering disinformation in public debate[2][3][4][5]

Campaigns

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Stop the Rot (2022)

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In 2022, Open Britain launched the Stop the Rot campaign, calling for Prime Minister Boris Johnson's resignation over alleged dishonesty and corruption.[6]

The campaign began with a rally outside Downing Street featuring speakers such as David Lammy MP, Peter Tatchell, Catherine Mayer, and Baroness Bennett. Later in the summer, the group delivered a six-foot "leaving card" to 10 Downing Street, signed by over 20,000 people and featuring artwork by satirical artist Cold War Steve.[7][8]

Tell Labour to Prioritise Proportional Representation

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After the Labour Party's 2024 general election victory, Open Britain launched a petition urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to commit to electoral reform within his first 100 days in office. On day 50, the organisation wrote to the Prime Minister informing him that the petition had reached over 55,000 signatures.[9]

Keep Trump Out of Parliament

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Following the announcement of President Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom, Open Britain wrote to Speaker Lindsay Hoyle requesting that Trump not be invited to address Parliament, calling such an address inappropriate given concerns over democratic values. A related petition gathered over 40,000 signatures.[10]

National Commission on Electoral Reform

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Open Britain has also called for the creation of a National Commission on Electoral Reform - an independent body made up of both experts and ordinary members of the public to investigate and recommend the best voting system for the UK. A petition for this campaign gathered over 17,000 signatures.[11][12]

Parliamentary Work

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Open Britain supports the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Fair Elections, alongside FairVote UK, which acts as its secretariat. The APPG campaigns for:

  • Replacing first-past-the-post with a proportional voting system
  • Eliminating so-called "dark money" from UK politics
  • Combatting the spread of disinformation in public debate[13][14]

As of 2025, the APPG is chaired by Labour MP Alex Sobel[15] and has over 150 members. It is currently the largest APPG in Parliament.[16][17]

Leadership and Funding

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Open Britain is currently led by CEO Mark Kieran, who also serves as acting director of FairVote UK.[18][19]

The organisation is funded primarily through small donations and crowdfunding campaigns.[20]

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  1. ^ "Open Britain Ltd - Overview". Companies House. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Open Britain". Open Britain. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  3. ^ Kieran, Mark (6 July 2024). "The Farage traps". West Country Voices. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  4. ^ Harrison, Emma; Kieran, Mark (25 June 2025). "Public Trust in Government Collapses to Record Low as Demand for Electoral Reform Surges". Byline Times. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  5. ^ Kieran, Mark. "National Commission on Electoral Reform: Why Fixing Politics is Essential to Labour's Renewal Agenda". West Country Voices. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  6. ^ Fletcher, Mark (2022-05-15). "Boris Johnson's government is morally and intellectually bankrupt". New Statesman. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  7. ^ Burke, Dave (2022-08-28). "Huge leaving card showing naked Boris Johnson delivered to No10 as 20,000 sign it". The Mirror. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  8. ^ Tinney, Aaron (3 September 2022). "Giant card featuring naked Boris Johnson running for the exit delivered to Number 10". Metro. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Tell Labour to prioritise Proportional Representation". ActionStorm. Open Britain. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  10. ^ "Keep Trump out of Parliament". ActionStorm. Open Britain. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  11. ^ "National Commission on Electoral Reform". ActionStorm. Open Britain. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  12. ^ Kieran, Mark (17 July 2024). "It's big news for our democracy…but there's one glaring omission!". West Country Voices. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  13. ^ Mortimer, Josiah (2024-09-10). "MPs Launch Cross-Party Bid to Overhaul Westminster Elections". Byline Times. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  14. ^ Harrison, Emma; Kieran, Mark (25 June 2025). "Public Trust in Government Collapses to Record Low as Demand for Electoral Reform Surges". Byline Times. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  15. ^ Mortimer, Josiah (2024-12-04). "Keir Starmer Rejects Call for 'Fairer Votes' Despite MPs Voting in Favour of Proportional Representation". Byline Times. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  16. ^ Self, Josh (2025-05-09). "Cross-party MPs brand voting system 'dangerous' in an era of electoral volatility". Politics.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  17. ^ "APPG for Fair Elections". APPG for Fair Elections. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  18. ^ "Officers of Open Britain Ltd". Companies House. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  19. ^ "About FairVote UK". FairVote UK. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  20. ^ "Fix Democracy Campaign". Crowdfunder. Open Britain. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
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