Luke Akehurst attempts to allay the fears of Labour MPs worried they could lose their seats under AV, citing the Liberal Democrats’ collapse in support and the pessimistic basis of the idea Labour cannot win in seats like Chesterfield and Islington South under AV.
Progress chair Stephen Twigg MP argues that Labour’s commitment to an referendum on AV was part of a wider programme of reform to renew public faith in politics and builds upon the important democratic changes made by Labour in government.
Strathclyde University professor John Curtice outlines how first-past-the-post is no longer able to deliver a two-party political system and why hung parliaments are set to become increasingly common.
Samuel Walker says that AV should be supported as much for what it is as what it isn’t. It gives greater freedom to the voter, but one alternative – full PR – is most undesirable for a lower house, and should be confined to the upper chamber.
John Denham MP on why the Liberal Democrats should be left to one side in the campaign for AV, and Labour should back the new system because it is the right thing to do
ippr‘s recent report shows that, with less than two per cent of voters deciding the last election, first past the post is a ‘broken voting system’.
For more information please visit Yes to Fairer Votes and LabourYes!
Winning the AV referendum would rescue the LDs and ensure that this government continues for a full term. Surely AV will simply mean more Con-Dem coalitions.
I think the whole issue of voting systems and governance should be considered by the party with a view to achieving a clear position. However I am unenthusiastic about the scenario of the Camerons weeping as they leave Downing Street and Nick Clegg sitting smugly in his Deputy Prime Ministers Chair waiting for Ed Miliband to come in.