Scupper the Lib Dems' plans for AV? Me?

Nick Clegg faces a bruising battle in the Commons over the timing of a planned referendum on electoral reform, with Labour poised to join rebel Conservatives in a fight to ensure it does not coincide with May’s local and regional elections. Senior Tories, including four former ministers, went against their own party’s policy on Tuesday by calling for the date to be changed, amid claims by pro-reform campaigners that a delay could scupper the chances of a Yes vote. A total of 44 Tory MPs, and Labour MP Dennis MacShane, have signed a parliamentary motion opposing the idea of holding the plebiscite on May 5.

The shadow cabinet is considering supporting that rebellion deepening the potential difficulties for Mr Clegg and the Liberal Democrats, who have been the main drivers of the bill. If Labour joined forces with the disaffected Tory MPs the coalition could come perilously close to its first Commons defeat. The coalition has cited the efficiency savings to be gleaned from holding the referendum on the day that Britons are going to the polls in other elections. But the Lib Dems stand to gain the most from that timing because a Yes vote is thought more likely if the turnout is higher. Thomas Docherty, a Labour backbencher, will table an amendment when parliament reconvenes in September, calling for a change of date. He is in talks with disaffected Tories to suggest an alternative.

Even though Labour proposed a referendum on the alternative vote in its election manifesto, senior party figures have calculated that a change of date could kill the chances of a Yes vote. That would undermine the coalition, prompting some Lib Dem MPs to question whether they had achieved anything by backing the Tories. Also worrying supporters of electoral reform is an amendment proposed by Eleanor Laing, Tory MP, and supported by a number of MPs, that would set a minimum turnout threshold with the result ruled invalid if too few voters participated.

Campaigners for the alternative vote warned that they were being caught in a pincer movement between anti-reform campaigners on both sides of the house. Ashley De, of the Electoral Reform Society, said: “We are expecting open season on spoiling amendments.” He added: “We have heard of the Brokeback coalition but the current group of left- and right-wingers teaming up to try and defeat electoral reform is an even more unlikely group.”

Financial Times