Three reasons why David Cameron should get involved in the No to AV campaign

Over at Comment Central, Danny Finkelstein has written a post saying that it might not be in the best interests of the No campaign for Cameron to campaign heavily against AV. His argument is that the No campaign’s best hope is to run as a spiky, anti-establishment effort. I think this is true but that the No camp has rather forfeited this chance by appointing Margaret Beckett as its president and having a former Labour MP front its launch. If the No campaign is going to be use so many politicians as spokesmen for it, it might as well have one of the most able ones involved.

Second, and most importantly, Cameron’s presence on the trail would highlight Nick Clegg’s absence. Rather unfairly Clegg has become the embodiment of how coalition requires compromises and thus broken promises. Hammering him will be vital to the No campaign getting the Labour votes it needs to win. Clegg knows this and so will keep a low profile.

The No campaign has to make Clegg staying off the stump an issue. But if the Prime Minister largely stays out of the fight, it will be a lot easier for Clegg to do the same.

Finally, and this is a matter of self-interest for Cameron, the Conservative party is in fractious mood. It is all too ready to believe that it has been betrayed over AV. If the leader keeps a low profile, this accusation is far more likely to stick.