The Labour Party manifesto 1997:
We are committed to a referendum on the voting system for the House of Commons. An independent commission on voting systems will be appointed early to recommend a proportional alternative to the first-past-the-post system.
Gordon Brown’s speech to the Labour Party conference 2009:
There is now a stronger case than ever that MPs should be elected with the support of more than half their voters – as they would be under the Alternative Voting system. And so I can announce today that in Labour’s next manifesto there will be a commitment for a referendum to be held early in the next Parliament it will be for the people to decide whether they want to move to the Alternative Vote.
So a 1997 commitment to a proprotional electoral system has become a 2009 commitment to hold a referendum after the next election for a non-proportional system.
Still, at least on House of Lord reform the Labour Party has remained consistent – they’re still trying to remove the hereditary principle:
1997 manifesto: As an initial, self-contained reform, not dependent on further reform in the future, the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords will be ended by statute.
2009 speech: In this next year we will remove the hereditary principle in the House of Lords once and for all.
Follow @LibDemVoice on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
Subscribe to our feed
Sign-up for our daily email digest
Lib Dems set to name 7 new peers for House of Lords, says Sunday Times
Kingston Lib Dems' council leader Derek Osbourne arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children
Congratulations to Sir Andrew, Alison, Flick, Kirsty and Sir Menzies
How not to write for Liberal Democrat Voice
“Dr Julian Huppert (Cambridge) rose. Hon. Members: Oh, no.” Yes, folks: this is our Parliament.
Opinion: Creating a new Alliance
Michael Moore MP writes…Scotland has a role in overseas aid
A picture postcard from a Liberal Democrat in Gezi Park
The Morrissey Report: We must take chance to be a more effective, respectful team
HCC lighting fiasco
England My England, Bulgarian Style
Universal Credit - some observations on policy and politics
'At least' two years until Launceston medical centre is upgraded
The Beach Boys On CD: Youngblood
Campaigning on Jobs and Apprenticeships
In loco parentis
Craig Murray on Haute de la Garenne
Goodbye Granadaland
Tim13
Stuart Mitchell
Hywel
Caracatus
One Comment
There is now a stronger case than ever that Governments should be elected with the support of more than half the voters
One Trackback
[...] referendum on electoral reform – but, as Stephen’s pointed out, it’s only a watered down version of the manifesto promise he stood on 12 years [...]