tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1925434779466434228.post753664952005681157..comments2024-01-11T07:10:55.164+00:00Comments on Paul Prentice: Labour: stop blindly following your tribe and vote Yes in the AV referendumPaul Prenticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14820603561896273066noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1925434779466434228.post-33636420144972601812011-04-19T14:13:16.377+01:002011-04-19T14:13:16.377+01:00It's a very good post. If there is a NO vote, ...It's a very good post. If there is a NO vote, I hope that "the electoral reform cat" is now out of the bag and pressuer will be put on all parties to give us a proper chance to make the voting system fairer.Dickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00332747737095727757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1925434779466434228.post-84036421702755629752011-04-19T12:12:18.384+01:002011-04-19T12:12:18.384+01:00Yes - I think you're right about AV not being ...Yes - I think you're right about AV not being in the next Labour manifesto if it doesn't get a Yes vote in the referendum. Off the top of my head, I was exploring possible ways forward should it fail. Ed would need a lot of convincing to put anything like PR in the next manifesto.<br /><br />Thanks for the feedback anyway.Paul Prenticehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14820603561896273066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1925434779466434228.post-79490610542380056442011-04-19T11:20:50.672+01:002011-04-19T11:20:50.672+01:00I agree with most of this article, and share your ...I agree with most of this article, and share your disgust with these old Labour curmudgeons who are protecting their own narrow interests. <br /><br />However, I think it will be highly unlikely that AV will be included in the Labour manifesto. Firstly, a referendum on AV was in their last manifesto, and secondly if there is a resounding "no" vote in the referendum, it would be ridiculous for the Labour party to then force AV on voters with only a general election mandate.<br /><br />The only way I can see Labour including something in their manifesto is if they include a referendum on AV+. STV or another form of PR is too unpopular in the Labour party, but a referendum on AV+, the system invented by the Jenkins commission, could possibly be included in a manifesto, and has a higher chance of winning, because it maintains the constituency link but also makes up for the lack of proportionality.<br /><br />It would be a real shame though as I think AV is better than AV+ as with AV+ there will be politicians on the party lists who we can’t get rid of it we want to. However, an AV+ referendum would be more likely to succeed as surely those who are against AV because they want PR would be able to support this system.<br /><br />The fact we’re having this argument shows how cack-handed our political parties have handled the issue. There is an appetite for change, but we might not get change because by only allowing us a vote on AV has divided electoral reformists. It would have been much better if they followed New Zealand’s lead, and first asked us if we want change.<br /><br />Once we have established that we want to replace our out-dated FPTP system, we can have a grown up debate about the kind of electoral system we really want.Dicky Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16710297885720687405noreply@blogger.com