Over at The Guardian’s Comment Is Free’s ‘A New Politics’ strand Lib Dem blogger James Graham argues that if Gordon Brown is serious about electoral reform Lib Dems should support him – but we must be wary of any proposed referendum. Here’s an excerpt:
Moving to the alternative vote system might be an improvement but it is a baby step, hardly worth having a referendum over at all. Even the Jenkins-designed alternative vote plus is not without its problems. Developed 10 years ago in a failed attempt to appease Tony Blair, it is a classic example of triangulation politics. As such it is not only one of the least representative electoral systems (barring first past the post and AV) but also one of the most complex. It certainly would be a step in the right direction but it is hard to see how serving up decade-old reheated Westminster fudge is going to sate an electorate driven to distraction by a discredited political establishment. …
Fundamentally, if this is to be little more than yet another of Brown’s ruses to get himself out of the frying pan, Clegg needs to be careful not to ensure he gets seared too. If, on the other hand, Labour is serious about reform then however late the conversion it should be welcomed.
You can read the article in full HERE.
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