AV ‘failing to convince’ ahead of poll

Most voters are not convinced that switching to the Alternative Vote (AV) for Westminster elections would either make MPs work harder or help prevent expenses abuse, according to a poll published yesterday.

By The Newsroom

Published 23rd Apr 2011, 07:00 BST

The YouGov survey for NO to AV Yes to PR found that only 29 per cent of people thought AV would make MPs work harder, compared with 41 per cent who thought it would not and another 30 per cent who did not know.

Some 59 per cent believed AV would not have helped avoid the expenses scandal, while only 13 per cent thought that it would have done. And 55 per cent felt AV would not “shut the door” on extremist parties like the far-right BNP.

Lord Owen, who calls for proportional representation but opposes AV, said the poll demonstrated the arguments of pro-AV campaigners were “failing” with only two weeks to go until the May 5 referendum.

The peer suggested Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg should have “held out” for a referendum on proportional representation rather than AV.

MPs