Referendum may mean end for some MPs

Rebel Tory backbencher Philip Davies accused the Tory leader of signing the "death warrant" for many of the party's new

MPs who would stand to lose their seats under an alternative vote system, where voters rank candidates in order of preference.

Although Mr Cameron got the measure through a meeting of the parliamentary party on Monday night – with only veteran Sir Peter Tapsell speaking against it – other Tory MPs have also expressed unease at the promise of a referendum.

"As far as I'm concerned there's never been any chance of any deal between Labour and the Liberal Democrats," said the Shipley MP.

"Such a shabby deal would have left both being annihilated by the electorate at a subsequent election."