If you're reading this, chances are you're fed up with how our governments are run. You're not alone—it's a feeling shared by millions across the UK and the Western world.
The veto is an option on ballots that voters can use if they think an election will not serve their interests. It is a way to withhold consent, so if chosen by a majority of voters, it triggers a rerun of that election.
It makes the voter sovereign and strengthens democracy like no other reform.
Why is it important? Well, let’s take a look at the current state of affairs.
The bar chart indicates that distrust in elected officials has reached crisis levels across much of the Western world, and this trend remains unchanged over time. This chart is not cherry-picked; it’s representative of the so-called western “democracies”.
Before we dive in, pause and ask yourself: if most of us don’t trust the parties we vote for, and we feel powerless to change things, are we really living in a true democracy?
At the VETO Campaign, we’ve pinpointed the main culprit behind this mess. It’s a big flaw baked into our voting systems that stops voters from being truly in charge. In systems like the UK’s First Past the Post (FPTP), if there’s no candidate who really speaks for you—or if your favourite has no shot at winning—you’re stuck. You either skip voting altogether or cast a vote that feels pointless, like throwing it away.
This broken setup causes all sorts of issues. It creates a gulf between politicians and the people they represent, allowing powerful special interest groups such as big corporations or lobbyists to make decisions instead.
It amplifies extremism, as elections are based on “lead, follow, or get out of the way”—what we call an “electoral oligarchy”. That’s not democracy; it’s a cheap knockoff that turns voters into fuel. Voters end up just feeding a machine that can spit out results nobody wanted. The system can ignore or silence even the majority of us, which is why trust is so low. It’s not about bad people—it’s about bad design.
Here’s our simple fix: Add a “VETO” box on every ballot. This lets you say, “This election doesn’t work for me—let’s try again.” If more than half the voters choose VETO, the election gets rerun soon after (say, within a few months). Meanwhile, candidates clearly understand the importance of listening to the public’s desires and modifying their proposals to garner genuine support. Suddenly, winning isn’t just about scraping by—it’s about earning the trust of most voters.
Is the solution too simple? Shouldn’t it be complicated and cost billions? Imagine what else could be fixed if we changed the base paradigm.
Politicians should only succeed if they truly represent our best interests, which is what representative democracy should be all about. The VETO bakes that into the system, making sure leaders actually work for us.
How the VETO Boosts the Greater Good for Everyone
Democracy isn’t perfect, but we live with the results, so we’re motivated to make smart choices that benefit us all.
Most of us want similar things: better jobs, safer communities, and fair opportunities. By giving voters real power and time to think, the VETO helps us steer toward decisions that serve the majority’s best interests.
Even if the VETO fails to reach 50% in an election, its impact remains significant. If the VETO votes are bigger than the winner’s margin, then representatives know they have to govern to pull in those unhappy voters next time or risk losing.
It ensures accountability from the outset. At its core, this reform bets on self-governance: that we, the people, can improve things when we’re in control. If that’s not true, well, we’re in trouble no matter what. But history shows that when people have a real say, good things happen.
We’ve kept this overview short, but our white paper on the website dives deeper—covering how it would work in practice, potential tweaks, and answers to common questions.
Join the VETO Campaign today and help build a democracy that actually delivers. Let’s put power back where it belongs—with you—and maximise the common good for all!
221 seats in the 2024 election were won with margins of less than 10%. Can you imagine the impact of the veto in that election? Do you think we would have the government we have now? Would we have ended up with something like the last Conservative government?
The Petition. PLEASE SIGN!
Adding a VETO option to ballots
Include the VETO option by the time of the next UK general election. A rerun would be required only if a majority of voters in that constituency, district or county VETO the election. There should be no limits on re-runs or original election candidates standing again.
A democratic electoral system requires consent, and the veto provides it.
NOTE: Petition approval is still pending, so there is nothing to sign yet. We will update once it’s up and running.