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PM to launch election reform plan Brown plans vote system shake-up
(about 2 hours later)
Gordon Brown is set to launch plans for reform of the voting system later. Britain's "first past the post" voting system could be scrapped if Labour wins the general election, under plans to be outlined later by Gordon Brown.
He will confirm that MPs are to vote next week on whether a referendum will be staged as a step towards replacing the "first past the post" system. The prime minister wants a referendum on changing to an "alternative vote" system, where candidates are ranked in order of voters' preference.
A public vote on the option of choosing MPs in an "alternative vote" system which ranks candidates in preference could take place after the election. MPs will vote next week on holding a referendum after the general election.
The Tories accused the PM of wanting to "fiddle" the system while the Lib Dems said the plan did not go far enough.The Tories accused the PM of wanting to "fiddle" the system while the Lib Dems said the plan did not go far enough.
The Lib Dems back a fully proportional electoral system in which parties get seats in parliament in proportion to the vote they get in the country. Mr Brown is said to have secured agreement from senior ministers for a vote by MPs on electoral reform next week and will be seeking the approval of his Cabinet this morning.
Mr Brown is said to have secured agreement from senior ministers for the vote by MPs and would be seeking the approval of his Cabinet this morning. Fair representation
Major obstacles
In a speech in London at lunchtime, Mr Brown is expected to announce that a referendum on changing the longstanding Westminster voting system could be held by the autumn of 2011 if the idea is approved by MPs.In a speech in London at lunchtime, Mr Brown is expected to announce that a referendum on changing the longstanding Westminster voting system could be held by the autumn of 2011 if the idea is approved by MPs.
The proposal follows a protracted debate with senior Labour ranks about the merits of a move to a different system. WHAT IS ALTERNATIVE VOTE? Voters rank candidates in order of preference and anyone getting more than 50% in the first round is elected.If that doesn't happen, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their second choices allocated to the remaining candidatesThis process continues until a winner emerges class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8281486.stm">Q&A: Voting reform referendum class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2010/02/electoral_refor.html">Nick Robinson's blog
WHAT IS ALTERNATIVE VOTE? Voters rank candidates in order of preference and anyone getting more than 50% in the first round is elected.If that doesn't happen, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their second choices allocated to the remaining candidates.This process continues until a winner emerges class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8281486.stm">Q&A: Voting reform referendum class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2010/02/electoral_refor.html">Nick Robinson's blog The proposed changes will not affect this year's general election.
Under the AV system backed by Mr Brown - and currently used in Australia - voters rank candidates by preference on the ballot paper. Labour pledged a referendum on electoral reform in its 1997 election manifesto but has never reached the stage of putting it into law.
The idea was kicked into the long grass by Tony Blair, who said he did not want to break the link between MPs and their constituencies.
Mr Brown's proposed alternative vote (AV) system would retain the constituency link but critics of it, including the Liberal Democrats, say it is still not a truly fair representation of how the nation votes.
The Lib Dems want to change to a proportional representation system in which Parliamentary seats are allocated in proportion to a party's share of the national vote, which they claim is fairer and would boost their number of MPs considerably.
Nevertheless, Mr Brown's proposals are being seen by some as an attempt to make overtures to the Lib Dems, who could hold the balance of power in the event of a hung Parliament.
'Real change'
The proposals would also allow Mr Brown to portray Conservative leader David Cameron, who is against changing the voting system, as a "roadblock" to reform during the forthcoming general election campaign, although the PM is likely to deny it is just an electoral ploy to embarrass the Tories.
But many of Mr Brown's MPs are thought to be sceptical about electoral reform and there is a danger of a backbench revolt against the proposals.
What the electorate wants is proportional representation. That's a far more sensible system Austin Mitchell, Labour MP
Labour backbencher Austin Mitchell said he did not believe the move would increase public engagement in politics as it would not result in "real change".
He told BBC Radio 5 live: "It's a suggestion for change by people who don't really want change.
"What the electorate wants is proportional representation. That's a far more sensible system."
Under the AV system backed by Mr Brown - currently used in Australia - voters rank candidates by preference on the ballot paper.
'Fiddle the system'
If no candidate wins more than 50% of votes in the first round, the votes of the candidates with the least support are, in turn, redistributed until a candidate gets a majority of votes cast.If no candidate wins more than 50% of votes in the first round, the votes of the candidates with the least support are, in turn, redistributed until a candidate gets a majority of votes cast.
Its backers say the system, while not a form of proportional representation, is fairer than the current system - in which many MPs are elected on a minority of the overall vote - while retaining the link between MPs and constituencies. Its backers say the system, while not a form of proportional representation, is fairer than the current system - in which many MPs are elected on a minority of the overall vote.
The expenses scandal has fuelled calls for wider political reform but there are several major obstacles standing in the way of any change.The expenses scandal has fuelled calls for wider political reform but there are several major obstacles standing in the way of any change.
WHAT IS FIRST PAST THE POST? Voter puts a cross in a box next to one candidate Candidate with most votes in constituency becomes MPParty with more MPs than all other parties forms government
Mr Brown wants the referendum plan to be inserted as an amendment into the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill currently before Parliament but there may not be enough time for it to be approved before the next election.Mr Brown wants the referendum plan to be inserted as an amendment into the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill currently before Parliament but there may not be enough time for it to be approved before the next election.
Many Labour MPs remain sceptical, fearing it will damage their electoral prospects. The Conservatives are strongly opposed to replacing the current "first past the post" system, saying it results in stable governments.
BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said the AV system was likely to be the only reform option acceptable to the many Labour MPs lukewarm about electoral reform.
A growing number of senior ministers are said to be keen on holding a referendum vote as a way of trying to depict the Conservatives as opponents of political reform.
But our correspondent said there were risks for the prime minister, with the danger of a revolt on his own backbenches and the possibility the move will be seen as an electoral ploy to embarrass the Tories.
One Labour backbencher, Austin Mitchell, said he did not believe the move will increase public engagement in politics as it would not result in "real change".
He told BBC Radio 5 live: "It's a suggestion for change by people who don't really want change.
"What the electorate wants is proportional representation... that's a far more sensible system."
Proportional option
The Conservatives are strongly opposed to replacing the current system, saying it results in stable governments.
"Gordon Brown avoided a leadership election, bottled a general election and now wants to fiddle the electoral system," said Conservative chairman Eric Pickles."Gordon Brown avoided a leadership election, bottled a general election and now wants to fiddle the electoral system," said Conservative chairman Eric Pickles.
The Liberal Democrats say the AV option is "a small step in the right direction" but not a substitute for a fully-fledged proportional system. The Liberal Democrats say the AV option is "a small step in the right direction" but not a substitute for a fully fledged proportional system.
"If they agree it, this is a death-bed conversion from a party facing defeat at the general election," said its home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne, confirming the party would put forward its own amendment."If they agree it, this is a death-bed conversion from a party facing defeat at the general election," said its home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne, confirming the party would put forward its own amendment.
Electoral reform campaigners say the public should get a say on different voting systems in any referendum.Electoral reform campaigners say the public should get a say on different voting systems in any referendum.