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02/02/2010
Brown Moots Electoral Reform
PM Gordon Brown has proposed scrapping the current voting system for Westminster elections.
Should Labour win another term in Government, the Prime Minister said his party would end 'first past the post' ballots and replace them with an 'alternative vote' system.
Presently voters put a single 'x' beside their preferred parliamentary candidate.
Under an 'alternative vote' the electorate would be asked to rank the names on the ballot paper numerically, much like the European elections system.
MPs will vote on the matter next week, which could see a referendum as early as 2011, should Labour retain power.
It would have no affect on this year's election, reportedly taking place in May.
Tories have said the government is attempting to "fiddle" with the electoral system, while Lib Dems want the overhaul to go further.
Labour pledged a referendum on electoral reform in its 1997 election manifesto but has never reached the stage of putting it into law.
Tony Blair postponed a move on the matter over concerns links could be lost between MPs and their constituents.
Under an alternative voting system, the first candidate to gain a 50% share would win the seat.
If this fails to happen the weakest candidate is eliminated and their votes are redistributed. This would continue until an eventual winner is elected.
The Lib Dems prefer Proportional Representation, which would allocate Commons seats according to national polling, and be advantageous to the third largest party.
Mr Brown wants the referendum plan to be inserted as an amendment into the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill currently before Parliament.
However, the impending election may hamper plans.
Tories have criticised the proposals, including party chairman Eric Pickles.
He said: "Gordon Brown avoided a leadership election, bottled a general election and now wants to fiddle the electoral system."
Power 2010, which campaigns for electoral and constitutional reform, said the move did not go far enough.
"Without troubling the public for their views, ministers hand-picked the voting system they favour in a cynical exercise aimed at wrong-footing the Tories ahead of a likely election defeat," a spokesman for the group said.
"AV is not a final destination for British politics, but the proposed referendum is a real stepping stone we have to see delivered in this Parliament."
(PR/BMcC)
Should Labour win another term in Government, the Prime Minister said his party would end 'first past the post' ballots and replace them with an 'alternative vote' system.
Presently voters put a single 'x' beside their preferred parliamentary candidate.
Under an 'alternative vote' the electorate would be asked to rank the names on the ballot paper numerically, much like the European elections system.
MPs will vote on the matter next week, which could see a referendum as early as 2011, should Labour retain power.
It would have no affect on this year's election, reportedly taking place in May.
Tories have said the government is attempting to "fiddle" with the electoral system, while Lib Dems want the overhaul to go further.
Labour pledged a referendum on electoral reform in its 1997 election manifesto but has never reached the stage of putting it into law.
Tony Blair postponed a move on the matter over concerns links could be lost between MPs and their constituents.
Under an alternative voting system, the first candidate to gain a 50% share would win the seat.
If this fails to happen the weakest candidate is eliminated and their votes are redistributed. This would continue until an eventual winner is elected.
The Lib Dems prefer Proportional Representation, which would allocate Commons seats according to national polling, and be advantageous to the third largest party.
Mr Brown wants the referendum plan to be inserted as an amendment into the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill currently before Parliament.
However, the impending election may hamper plans.
Tories have criticised the proposals, including party chairman Eric Pickles.
He said: "Gordon Brown avoided a leadership election, bottled a general election and now wants to fiddle the electoral system."
Power 2010, which campaigns for electoral and constitutional reform, said the move did not go far enough.
"Without troubling the public for their views, ministers hand-picked the voting system they favour in a cynical exercise aimed at wrong-footing the Tories ahead of a likely election defeat," a spokesman for the group said.
"AV is not a final destination for British politics, but the proposed referendum is a real stepping stone we have to see delivered in this Parliament."
(PR/BMcC)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A chilly start with a widespread frost and some freezing fog, any freezing fog slow to clear. Otherwise bright with sunny spells and coastal showers. Light winds. Maximum temperature 6 °C.Tonight:Coastal showers dying out with a widespread frost developing along with freezing fog, which could become extensive. Winds remaining light. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
