The AV rebels change tack
Peter Hoskin 3:36pm
A little snippet from today's Times (£) that is worth noting down:
This not only comes some way to meeting David Cameron's conference plea, "don't try and wreck the bill, let's get on and have the debate in the country and win the argument" – but it also reflects growing confidence, in Tory circles, that the No campaign can do just that. After a good week in Birmingham, the AV doubters now seem to be uniting for battle next May."Tory rebels will this week lift their threat to the date of next year's proposed referendum on voting changes – because they believe May 5 offers the best chance of stopping the alternative vote (AV) system.That date coincides with the council elections in Scotland, Wales and most of England, and was thought likely to boost the 'yes' vote for replacing first-past-the-post general elections. Nick Clegg insists that the Lib Dems will not budge on the date.
But a tactical rethink will see many AV sceptics wave it through when the Bill comes to the floor of the Commons this week. A reassessment by the 'no' campaign believes that a stand-alone referendum on a different date would give Labour and the Liberal Democrats a single cause over which to unite. Turnout would be much higher among the AB social groups who are most likely to support change."
Previous
alexsandr
October 11th, 2010 4:36pm Report this commentIm gonna vote No on AV in the referendum. Does that make me a rebel?
Robert Eve
October 11th, 2010 4:43pm Report this commentI'm voting NO too!!
Dan Grover
October 11th, 2010 5:01pm Report this commentThe rebels are the ones who don't want a referendum, not those who oppose AV.
Duncan Stott
October 11th, 2010 5:52pm Report this commentSo the No to AV camp are admitting that there objections to the date were unprincipled and entirely out of self-interest.
One may want to consider what is motivating their desire to cling on to FPTP... also self-interest perhaps?
Mike
October 11th, 2010 6:18pm Report this commentThe Yes campaign will win regardless of the date. A tiny number of seats decide the election, a huge number of votes dont really count.
The killer No argument, that coalitions are crap and AV gives us coalitions, is being blown to pieces as well.
Right On
October 11th, 2010 9:48pm Report this comment@ Mike/Duncan Stott - I'm in the NO camp not because it's a bad idea simply that such a change to our democracy shouldn't be made in isolation.
If we are going to change then it should be a full constitutional revamp, not just one selected option that doesn't offend vested interest too much!
dg
October 12th, 2010 12:33pm Report this commentCan we have a referendum on banning constitutional vandalism?
Jannie Geldenhuys
October 12th, 2010 2:48pm Report this commentNo one wants AV as a system and that is going to be a killer blow.
The idea that AV is just a stepping stone to further, unstated reforms further down the road - AV+, STV - is a real turn off.
I suspect the No campaign will romp home.
What the article doesnt comment on is the rebels' wanting a minimum turnout as a condition for a Yes vote being respected. Where has that got to?
Simon Gazeley
October 15th, 2010 8:20pm Report this commentOnly an anti-democrat would vote against holding the referendum.
I live in Bath, which changed from Conservative to LD in 1992. In every general election since 1987 (and probably before then)the LDs' slogan has been "Labour can't win here". It is likely that a significant part of Don Foster's majority consists of votes which the voter would rather have cast for Labour. You can't deduce an AV result from an FPTP result because the votes would have been cast differently.
I support AV because you can vote your conscience even if you believe your favourite candidate doesn't stand a chance.
soccer doc
October 16th, 2010 11:20am Report this commentBlair might well have described Holyrood (the Scottish Parliament for those of you who have been away) as a virtual Parish Council, but that notwithstanding you are wrong in your report to suggest that the Scottish local council elections are on May 5th next year. They are not. It is the elections for Holyrood which are on May 5th next year. Do try to keep up folks.
You might also care to contemplate the reaction in England if Holyrood decided to organize a referendum on the same day as Westminster election.
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