ERS - AV referendum time to Make FPTP History

Tuesday, 6 July 2010 12:00 AM

The Electoral Reform Society has welcomed Nick Cleggs historic announcement that the referendum on the Alternative Vote (AV) will take place on May 5th 2011
Ashley De from the Electoral Reform Society said:
The worst kept secret in Westminster is fantastic news for anyone interested in rebuilding trust in politics.
On May 5th 2011, and for the first time in our history, the people expected to use the voting system to elect their parliament will have the chance to change it. We have MPs enjoying power without any real mandate [1] and millions of voters whove never made a difference in election after election. Its time we turned the page on the politics of the 19th Century and this is that chance.
Our decrepit system has consistency failed the public, so its fitting that its fate rests with the judgement of the British people. This is their chance to Make First-Past-the-Post History.
Contacts

For more information, comment or interviews please contact Ashley D on 07968791684.
[1] The Alternative Vote and the Crisis of Legitimacy in the House of Commons.
Research from the Society has indicated that 2010 has produced MPs with the weakest mandates in political history. More than 2/3 of current Westminster residents cannot claim consent of even 50% of their voters, thanks to the arbitrary winner takes all nature of our elections.

Mandates in 2010

The 2010 general election sees the lowest proportion ever of MPs elected with the support of a majority of voters in their constituency (in 2001, 2005 and 2010 no MP obtained a majority of the electorate).

The sheer number of MPs with minority support, and the upward trend in recent years, is at least from the voters point of view straining the connection between MP and constituency. In all respects other than the provision of casework, the constituency link is as weak as it has ever been. A majority of MPs speak for their constituents despite the fact that a majority of those who bothered to cast a vote did not do so for the incumbent. While before 1974 this was relatively peripheral, it has become an ever more important feature of the political landscape since then.

AV requires that an MP will have at least a qualified majority of local voters; there will be times that the final vote for the winner will not be half of the ballots cast because of ballots that do not transfer, but most MPs will have a proper majority under AV. A majority of voters will get some degree of support, and therefore have some degree of ownership, over the MP the constituency link should no t be a one-way relationship. AV will enhance the constituency authority of the MP as well.

About us:
The Electoral Reform Society is campaigning to change the way we choose our politicians. We believe that a fair voting system will improve our democracy, allow politicians to better represent you the voter and help them to tackle the serious issues facing our society. Above all we believe that fairness, accountability and a real choice for voters should not be compromised. www.electoral-reform.org.uk

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