Robin Cook

Former Commons leader Robin Cook has called for reform of Westminster's first past the post electoral system.

The Edinburgh MP has now succeeded the late Lord Jenkins as president of the campaign for proportional representation.

Speaking at a conference fringe meeting, Cook claimed Labour would regret not taking the opportunity to change the electoral system for Westminster while it was in power, despite recognising that he was in a minority within the party at present.

Without grasping the nettle of reform now, MPs and activists could face another 18 years in opposition with little chance to implement "fair votes" he warned.

"We have the power to change it now," he said.

"I do not want to be addressing more packed fringe meetings on PR at Labour conferences in the future."

PR would help Labour tackle all of its major problems, Cook argued.

"If there was a credible party to the left of us we would have to pay as much attention to the left as we do to the centre," he said.

"We have done a tremendous amount for our core voters. But it astounds me that we do not do more to promote what we have done for them."

"We should not blind ourselves to the problems that come from having such a large majority," he added.

"We are facing a problem in which people feel a lack of ownership of the political process."

Also addressing the event was education minister Stephen Twigg, a longstanding campaigner for PR.

The government had committed itself to a review of proportional voting in the new institutions in Scotland, Wales and London and the elections to the European parliament, he reminded activists.

"We need to ensure that it is a genuine, thorough, comprehensive and independent review," the Enfield and Southgate MP said. "We need to make sure it happens."