Electoral Reform Bill must give voters real choice

Electoral Reform Bill must give voters real choice – Howarth

By The Voice | Sun 7th February 2010 - 12:19 pm

A news release from the party reports:

The Liberal Democrats have tabled amendments to the Government’s proposals for a referendum on electoral reform that would:

Offer voters a real choice between first-past-the-post and a truly proportional system (Single Transferable Vote), rather than AV
Bring forward the date of the referendum to next May
Close a loophole allowing the next Government to kill the proposals without an Act of Parliament

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Justice Secretary, David Howarth said:

“Voters deserve a real choice – between the discredited status quo and a system where every vote matters and there are no safe seats.

“The Alternative Vote system is a very small step in the right direction, but it is not proportional and it does not give voters enough power over the party and the person elected as MP.

“It is also unacceptable that Labour’s amendments would make it childishly easy for the next Government to kill a referendum without further legislation.

“By acting purely out of naked self-interest, the Conservative Party has long been a roadblock to electoral reform.

“It would be far too easy for them to abandon a referendum if they win an election, which is why the Liberal Democrats have taken steps to Tory-proof the Bill.”

2 Comments

David 7th Feb '10 - 6:27pm

This is part of what I posted on here today, but I feel this is the best posting for it.

So why are the Lib Dems only on 20% in the polls against Labours 30%?
I think it is only because people do not think the Lib Dems can win the Election, and most go for one of the main parties.
The only answer is PR, and I think voters could leave in droves from both Labour and the Tory parties.
Then and only then will you see the Lib Dems overtake Labour, and come very close to the Tory party, this would be a very good place to start from.

So stuff Brown on his vote this week, and push him into PR or nothing.

It was interesting what Clegg said on this yesterday.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/clegg-hints-tories-may-make-better-coalition-partner-1891763.html

“”I’ve looked very carefully at my predecessors,” he told The Daily Telegraph. “Look at how Ming got led up the garden path. Look at the way Paddy was left at the altar. I’ve spoken to people. Paddy is vociferous about it. He says, ‘Just don’t go anywhere near them again. It might have made sense then, but don’t [do it].’” He added: “It was a conspiracy of Blair’s mendacity and Brown’s obduracy.
Niklas Smith 8th Feb '10 - 5:48pm

Excellent amendments from David Howarth, as usual. Let’s just hope they get passed…

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