Brown's voting reform 'conversion'

GORDON Brown was accused of a "deathbed conversion" to reforming the voting system as he unveiled plans to ditch first-past-the-post elections and end "discredited old politics".

The Prime Minister has convinced the Cabinet to agree to back a post-election referendum on whether to change the system so voters rank candidates in order of preference.

MPs are expected to vote next week on whether the promise of the referendum – which would take place no later than October 2011 – should form part of legislation currently going through parliament, although it is unclear whether it will reach the statute book before the General Election.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Brown said the alternative vote system would maintain the benefit of a close constituency link for MPs but also offer voters increased choice and ensure that all those elected to Parliament have the support of more than half of their constituents.

"In short it offers a system where the British people can, if they so choose, be more confident that their MP truly represents them, while at the same time remaining directly accountable to them," he said.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson, MP for Hull West and Hessle, is one of those in the Cabinet who have been pushing for a more radical system of proportional representation to be introduced, although he is backing the proposals unveiled by Mr Brown.

He told the Yorkshire Post: "I think this is something that's really important to the new politics we want to emerge from a pretty dreadful and depressing 12 months.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I will not cease to argue for a proportional system – that's a very important belief that I hold. But let's face it, this is going to settle things for many years to come and I think it's a good compromise."

The proposals were, however, criticised as too weak by Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, who called for the referendum to offer voters a bigger range of options, including systems of proportional representation.

"The fact they've now had this deathbed conversion – literally at the last minute of a fag-end Labour government – to hold a referendum when they're almost certainly not going to be in power, on a system that is not even proportional – of course I'm not jumping up and down with excitement.

"It's a baby step in the right direction because anything is better than the present system, which is totally unacceptable."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Under the alternative vote system, voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no one gets more than 50 per cent, the person with the least support is knocked out and their supporters' second preferences are counted. The process continues until the winner gets more than half the votes.

A package of reforms unveiled by Mr Brown also include the publication of a draft Bill to create a democratically accountable House of Lords within weeks, more power to MPs over the running of the Commons and the swifter release of official documents under Freedom of Information laws. A written constitution could also be drawn up by 2015.

Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague, MP for Richmond, said: "It's not the voting system that needs changing, it's this weak and discredited Prime Minister. New politics needs a new government".