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| Voting reform referendum pledged | Voting reform referendum pledged |
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| Gordon Brown has committed Labour to holding a referendum on voting reform should it win the next election. | Gordon Brown has committed Labour to holding a referendum on voting reform should it win the next election. |
| In his conference speech, Mr Brown said Labour would hold a referendum "early" in the next Parliament on proposals for an alternative vote system. | In his conference speech, Mr Brown said Labour would hold a referendum "early" in the next Parliament on proposals for an alternative vote system. |
| Under this, voters rank candidates in order with the bottom candidate's second preferences transferred in each round until someone gets 50% of votes. | |
| Several senior ministers backed such a move to restore faith in politics. | |
| The Conservatives remain opposed to such a move, saying existing first-past-the-post rules create stable governments and maintain MPs' links with constituencies. | The Conservatives remain opposed to such a move, saying existing first-past-the-post rules create stable governments and maintain MPs' links with constituencies. |
| The Lib Dems have argued for change for years, saying the current system produces highly unrepresentative results and is biased against smaller parties. | The Lib Dems have argued for change for years, saying the current system produces highly unrepresentative results and is biased against smaller parties. |
| Labour won power in 2005 with a 36% share of the popular vote, the lowest in history and down from the 43% it gained in 1997. | Labour won power in 2005 with a 36% share of the popular vote, the lowest in history and down from the 43% it gained in 1997. |
| Governments being elected with a minority of the popular vote harmed their accountability, Mr Brown said, and different electoral systems needed to be looked at. | Governments being elected with a minority of the popular vote harmed their accountability, Mr Brown said, and different electoral systems needed to be looked at. |
| Pro-reform campaigners have been divided on when to hold a referendum. | Pro-reform campaigners have been divided on when to hold a referendum. |
| Some argue it should happen on the same day as the general election to boost turnout but others claim its chances could be scuppered by scheduling it then. | Some argue it should happen on the same day as the general election to boost turnout but others claim its chances could be scuppered by scheduling it then. |