Today saw the authentic Brown returning to the path that he embarked on in 2007 with a serious ambition to fulfil what he started. A commitment to an AV referendum will help to change the debate once and for all about where political power should lie in this country. It should be with the people, not the politicians.
Jessica Asato, acting director, Progress
Gordon Brown today gave one of the most radical speeches on constitutional reform I have ever heard from a Labour minister. In it he outlined a commitment to popular sovereignty, to a written constitution by 2015 – the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta – and to wholescale reform of the House of Lords and of the voting system for the House of Commons. Though he did not give everything reformers hoped for, it goes way beyond our more pessimistic expectations.
In effect he has now thrown down the gauntlet to David Cameron and said: ‘This is the change I believe in’ and asked: ‘What do you believe in?’
Peter Facey, director, UnlockDemocracy
Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform welcomes the prime minister’s announcement that MPs will vote next week to legislate for a referendum allowing the British people to scrap the out-dated first past the post system. The choice before the electorate at the next general election is clear: between Labour as the only party of government capable of delivering real democratic reform, and David Cameron’s Conservatives defending the discredited status quo.
The Alternative Vote, while not a proportional system for which we have long campaigned, would nevertheless represent a step in the right direction. It would allow Labour voters in safe Conservative seats to register their true preferences without fear of “wasting” their votes, and would mean every elected candidate could legitimately claim to enjoy the support of over half the voters. It will give Labour candidates something to say on an issue which first surfaced when the Plant Commission reported in 1993 when then leader John Smith said “let the people decide” and has appeared in successive Labour manifestos.
We now call on all Labour MPs to unite behind the lead shown by the prime minister and Cabinet and vote for the government’s amendment.
Mary Southcott, Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform
Much will be made of the politics underlying today’s announcement to introduce a bill for a referendum on AV. Some will see it as an attempt to cosy up to the Lib Dems, potentially strengthening Labour’s appeal if there is a hung parliament; others say it will make life uncomfortable for the Tories by forcing them to explicitly reject a referendum. But the idea that this move somehow “locks” in the Tories is overblown since they can easily repeal a bill if they win, though it’s true they will come under pressure to explain why they think the people should be denied a say (not that this irritated the British public when Labour reneged on their own manifesto commitment for such a vote). Instead the real political significance of today is for Labour. Heavily divided between the minority pro-reformers and first-past-the-post diehards for much of its existence the Labour party might finally unite behind the cause of electoral reform, albeit over the AV compromise. Whatever the fate of the bill Labour will have signed up to AV and will find it hard to undo this commitment
Guy Lodge, associate director, ippr
I welcome what he has said today. The party ought to take charge of the issue rather than be passive. The doubts about PR are well rehearsed: the problems of getting contact with constituents and the fact that full PR can lead to a very undemocratic politics where everything is decided by party officials. So I think it’s a good thing, as is having a referendum on it, though personally I would have preferred to hold the referendum at same time as the general election. If it goes in as an amendment to the constitutional reform bill I shall look forward to speaking for it when it arrives at the Lords next week.
I also welcomes his proposal to establish a committee on a written constitution – this is long overdue and the Labour party’s instinct lies in this direct. This would be mean stronger democracy and more popular accountability with clear representation of what the responsibilities of different institutions. The whole thrust of his speech today was very encouraging.
Lord Kenneth O Morgan, historian and Labour peer
Although to many the question of electoral reform may seem slightly esoteric, there is merit in the prime minister being front-footed on any and all policy issues at this crucial time. Not only is there a genuinely important strategic objective in broadening the debate about parliamentary reform beyond expenses and into citizen engagement, improved democratic legitimacy and so on, there is a pragmatic political tactic here in setting a news agenda about something positive and novel. While many of us would personally choose higher priority reforms, such as greater devolution to local government and the frontline of public services, this discussion about a ‘majority mandate’ for parliamentarians does strike a chord among those who feel disconnected from their MPs and national politics.
Chris Leslie, director, New Local Government Network
It’s really good news that the government has decided to table an amendment to put our commitment to an AV referendum on the statute book. I tabled a similar amendment a few weeks ago, with support from Progress, and it has been signed by about 30 MPs. We will of course withdraw it once the government tables an amendment along the same lines.
It’s very important to nail our colours to the mast as a party committed to the reform of our voting system. We will be able to challenge every candidate and every party to say whether they will support the referendum and whether they will vote for change. Cameron claims the Conservatives are the party of change but if he refuses to support a change in the voting system, that will show it is all mouth and no trousers.
The 30 MPs who signed my amendment include some who started off as supporters of first-past-the-post, some who are electoral reformers and some who have always been supporters of AV, but we all feel it is time to meet in the middle and support AV as the best system we can all agree on.
Even at this late stage we believe it is still possible to get this on the statute book before the next election.
Martin Linton MP
I welcome the government’s belated recognition that our current first past the post electoral system is no longer fit for purpose in a multi-party democracy.
However, if the aim of this whole exercise is to restore trust in politics, as Gordon Brown claims, then the government could hardly have gone about it in a worse way.
Pam Giddy, director, Power2010
This is an opportunity that we cannot afford to waste. Those of us who have championed Electoral Reform (as distinct from the PR purists) recognise AV as something which would at a stroke strenghthen our democracy. As someone elected under the closely related Supplemnatry Vote (SV) system I know that having to reach out beyond the core support for my own Party at election time has meant taking a more open and inclusive approach. It has not meant “watering down” the Labour Principles I stand for but it means thinking carefully about issues that matter to all my constituents.
This may be teh best opportunity for reform since the formation of the National Government in 1931 put paid to the Ramsey MacDonald’s half hearted effort.
Politics and politicans are currentlky at a very low ebb – something bold is needed to begin a process of change. Gordon Brown has opened up the possibity of that happening and quickly.
AV is too little, too late. It is simply a tactical device by the leadership to gain lib-dem support in the event of a hung parliament and to show Labour’s ‘renewing politics’ credentials. AV will continue to entrench the two and a half party system at Westminster & in some cases will not stop labour or the tories from achieving large parliamentary majorities on a minority share of the national vote. Labour’s had 13 yrs to draw together a comprehenisve constitutional package and has failed. The Tories will almost certainly repeal any commitment to AV, with no impact on public opinion.