ERS: AV pledge: 'Brown's Choice' is not the change we need

Wednesday, 30 September 2009 12:00 AM

The Electoral Reform Society has reacted with anger to the Prime Minister's announcement that Labour will offer a referendum on the Alternative Vote in its next manifesto.

Dr Ken Ritchie, Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society said:

"Today Gordon Brown spoke of the 'change we choose'. What he meant was the change he chose. This is not a victory for voters. This is victory for none save a handful of cabinet cheerleaders.

"Brown has held up the government's manifesto pledge research alternative systems as evidence that this government was serious on reform [1]. That obscure document, published without fanfare last year, was a legacy of government inaction, didn't even bother referencing the Alternative Vote. No serious organization or institutions are pressing for AV. Not even the Ministry of Justice's own civil servants.

"The Alternative Vote would be a very minor reform - it would not get rid of safe seats or make elections competitive everywhere, it would not guarantee a more representative parliament or one better able to hold the government to account, and it would do little to change the nature of our politics.

"Voters have been asking for wholesale change to the political rule book. AV is a slim erratum, with few edits, and few sacrifices. This was a time at which a bold initiative was needed. With the expenses scandals and revelations over MPs' second incomes, we needed a radical option that would restore faith and confidence in politics. Instead Brown has bottled out when he had the opportunity to establish his credentials as a reformer.

"What we need now is a real debate on how we need to change politics. The question put in a referendum should not just be a matter for politicians. Any legislation for a referendum should also include arrangements for some form of process which would allow ordinary people to decide what voting system should be offered in a referendum.

"Come a referendum campaign the 'Yes Campaign' will be obliged to make a compelling case for change. Today Gordon Brown made that job much harder, by offering a change so slight, with so few sacrifices, that voters will be hard pressed to fit a cigarette paper between the choices on offer."

[1] See the Review of Voting Systems: the experience of new voting systems in the United Kingdom since 1997' (Cm 7304).

Contact:
For more information contact the Ashley Dé 07968791684 or Dr Ken Ritchie on 07754165551

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