MPs voted in favour of introducing a proportional representation electoral system in Parliament on Tuesday (December 3).

The first reading of the Bill, put forward by Sarah Olney, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park and frontbencher, narrowly passed with 138 to 136 votes. 

The measure was introduced as a "10-minute rule bill", which gives MPs that amount of time to make the case for a bill before a vote.

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Proportional representation is an electoral system in which the distribution of seats corresponds closely with the proportion of the total votes cast for each party.

For example, if a party gained 40 per cent of the total votes, a perfectly proportional system would allow them to gain 40 per cent of the seats.

The House of Commons currently uses the first-past-the-post system, in which voters select their preferred candidate in their constituency and the candidate with the most votes wins. 

Five out of the seven Oxfordshire MPs voted for the Bill.

These were: Calum Miller, Lib Dem MP for Bicester and Woodstock; Layla Moran, Lib Dem MP for Oxford West and Abingdon; Sean Woodcock, Labour MP for Banbury; Olly Glover, Lib Dem MP for Didcot and Wantage; and Freddie Van Mierlo, Lib Dem MP for Henley and Thame.

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There were no Oxfordshire MPs who voted against the bill. 

No votes were recorded for Anneliese Dodds, Labour MP for Oxford East and Charlie Maynard, Lib Dem MP for Witney. 

The Bill will now move onto a second reading, which is due to take place on January 24.

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