Nigel Farage: a political outsider who could change the rules of the game in the UK's electoral system.

Rebuilding the British electoral system: fighting against disproportional representation

The leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, is associated with Brexit and anti-immigration rhetoric, but he could become a driving force in reforming the British electoral system. Citizens' dissatisfaction with traditional parties and changes in the political landscape of Britain have become urgent, and the FPTP system from the 17th century no longer meets the demands of democracy.

To win, a candidate needs to gain the most votes in each constituency, regardless of the percentage ratio, which creates disproportionality in parliament.

The last elections demonstrated this disproportionality, where Labour secured 412 seats with 33.7% of the votes, while Reform UK gained only 5 seats with 14.3% of the votes. Changes to the electoral system could become a legitimacy crisis for the political system if Farage's party gains voter support but has meager representation.

Farage may stir the pot by positioning himself as a defender of democracy against the 'corrupt establishment'.

Although the 2011 referendum on changing the system ended in defeat for reformers, recent polls show a shift in sentiment. Already, 49% of Britons support proportional representation.

Interestingly, all major parties, except the Conservatives, have joined the reformers. The upcoming elections to the Welsh Assembly, which will be held under a proportional system, could serve as a catalyst for changes at the national level.

A crucial step for democracy is for people to see how a fairer system works, comments the director of research at ERS.

Traditional parties, especially Labour, are negatively inclined towards changes in the electoral system as it contradicts their interests. The issue of disproportional representation is becoming particularly acute in the context of a general crisis of trust in democratic institutions. Reform requires public support, although parties in power rarely have the motivation to change it.

Farage's presence could strengthen the argument about the system's unfairness because the electoral system contradicts itself.