A referendum on a new electoral system is expected to be held next year, the BBC has been told. Sources suggest that Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, is due to announce that a vote on the alternative voting (AV) system will be held on 5th May 2011. This is the same date as English local, Scottish Parliamentary and Welsh Assembly elections.
Alternative voting: how about some nice curtains?
A government source said holding the referendum on the same day as the elections should improve voter turnout. Under the proposed AV system, voters rank candidates in order of preference and anyone getting more than 50% in the first round is elected. If that does not happen, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and voters' second choices allocated to the remaining candidates. This process continues until a winner emergezzzzzz.
One problem with AV is that it is possible for the most popular candidate to be beaten by the least unpopular candidate. John Redwood, MP, has another gripe with it: ‘If you vote for one of the two most popular parties you only get to vote once. If you vote for a party that cannot win you effectively vote twice, as your second preference then helps decide which of the front runners has won. Why is this fair?"
Labour's position on electoral reform will not be clear until it has elected a new leader. Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary and Labour leadership contender, told the Guardian that voting reform was "a peripheral issue" and added: "It is not my party's job to prop up the Liberal Democrats by helping them win a referendum that is important to them." Burnham, a long-time sceptic about voting reform, said he was leaning towards reform, but the party could not officially take sides. He said: "The party nationally couldn't campaign for any one position – you know, it really couldn't. Those who are calling for retention of first past the post are making an incredibly important and legitimate argument." He added: "Let's not get obsessed by this issue, because it really is irrelevant. It's a kind of fringe pursuit for Guardian-reading classes."
Ed Miliband, one of those contesting the leadership with Burnham, has committed to Labour backing the AV referendum vote if he becomes leader.
BBC News, the Guardian
Labour's position on electoral reform will not be clear until it has elected a new leader. Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary and Labour leadership contender, told the Guardian that voting reform was "a peripheral issue" and added: "It is not my party's job to prop up the Liberal Democrats by helping them win a referendum that is important to them." Burnham, a long-time sceptic about voting reform, said he was leaning towards reform, but the party could not officially take sides. He said: "The party nationally couldn't campaign for any one position – you know, it really couldn't. Those who are calling for retention of first past the post are making an incredibly important and legitimate argument." He added: "Let's not get obsessed by this issue, because it really is irrelevant. It's a kind of fringe pursuit for Guardian-reading classes."
Ed Miliband, one of those contesting the leadership with Burnham, has committed to Labour backing the AV referendum vote if he becomes leader.
BBC News, the Guardian
