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Doubt over electoral change plan Doubt over electoral change plan
(40 minutes later)
Downing Street has admitted "time is tight" to get laws for a referendum on scrapping Britain's first past the post voting system through Parliament. Downing Street has admitted "time is tight" to change the law, as MPs debate a referendum on scrapping the UK's first past the post voting system.
Gordon Brown wants to replace it with "alternative vote," where candidates are ranked in order of preference.Gordon Brown wants to replace it with "alternative vote," where candidates are ranked in order of preference.
The prime minister says this is a better way of choosing MPs but the Conservatives say the existing method is fair and "keeps extremists out".The prime minister says this is a better way of choosing MPs but the Conservatives say the existing method is fair and "keeps extremists out".
Up to 40 Labour MPs could also vote against the plans in the Commons later.Up to 40 Labour MPs could also vote against the plans in the Commons later.
The Labour rebels believe a change to alternative vote would benefit the least unpopular - rather than the most popular - candidates, and could cost Labour seats at future elections. MPs are now debating the Constitutional Reform Bill and will vote on an amendment backing a referendum on an alternative vote system.
'Shady deal' 'Election gimmick'
Some also see it as a political move designed to woo the Liberal Democrats in the event of a hung Parliament - something denied by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn. As the debate got underway, the government was attacked over the £80m cost of the proposed referendum - "at a time of financial restraint".
Mr Benn referred to the expenses scandal, telling the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "It is about doing the right thing because we do need to restore trust in politics. Conservative former minister Douglas Hogg attacked Mr Brown's motives, telling MPs the plan was "an election gimmick thought up by a discredited prime minister hoping to extend his time in office .. by a shady deal with the Liberal Democrats".
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 Would AV have changed history?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 Would AV have changed history?
"This is an opportunity to make a change to try to restore trust and confidence in the system which, of course, has been hugely damaged by what has happened." Justice Secretary Jack Straw said the cost amounted to £1.20 per voter and added that the Tories had pushed for a referendum on the EU Treaty but were now opposing one on the "central question" of how the country should vote.
MPs are now debating the Constitutional Reform Bill and will vote on an amendment backing a referendum on an alternative vote system later on Tuesday. Any referendum would not be held before the general election - widely expected to be called for 6 May - Mr Brown has said it would be held by the end of October 2011.
Conservative former minister Douglas Hogg started by attacking Mr Brown's motives, telling MPs the plan was "an election gimmick thought up by a discredited prime minister hoping to extend his time in office .. by a shady deal with the Liberal Democrats". The Labour rebels believe a change to alternative vote would benefit the least unpopular - rather than the most popular - candidates, and could cost Labour seats at future elections.
'No cynical ploy'
Some also see it as a political move designed to woo the Liberal Democrats in the event of a hung Parliament.
But in the Commons Mr Straw denied it was a "cynical ploy" and pointed out it was the British people who would decide whether to change the voting system - not Labour and the Lib Dems.
He urged the Tories to have the "courage of their convictions" and make the case for retaining first-past-the-post to the electorate in a referendum.
This vote will illustrate better than any before the divisions between and within parties Ken Ritchie, Electoral Reform Society
The amendment would pave the way for a referendum on voting reform next year - but the Tories will almost certainly overturn it if they win this year's election.The amendment would pave the way for a referendum on voting reform next year - but the Tories will almost certainly overturn it if they win this year's election.
'What's the point?'
They are strongly opposed to scrapping the "first past the post" system, which they believe guarantees strong and stable government.They are strongly opposed to scrapping the "first past the post" system, which they believe guarantees strong and stable government.
And with a general election expected in May, time is running out to get new legislation through Parliament.And with a general election expected in May, time is running out to get new legislation through Parliament.
This vote will illustrate better than any before the divisions between and within parties Ken Ritchie, Electoral Reform Society
As a result, several would-be Labour rebels told the BBC they would not vote against the government, one declaring: "It's dead before it's even started - so what's the point?"As a result, several would-be Labour rebels told the BBC they would not vote against the government, one declaring: "It's dead before it's even started - so what's the point?"
The prime minister's official spokesman has conceded that there may not be enough time to get the referendum proposal on to the statute book, but said Mr Brown still believed it was the best option for reform.The prime minister's official spokesman has conceded that there may not be enough time to get the referendum proposal on to the statute book, but said Mr Brown still believed it was the best option for reform.
Labour pledged a referendum on electoral reform in its 1997 election manifesto but the idea was kicked into the long grass by Tony Blair after his landslide victory.Labour pledged a referendum on electoral reform in its 1997 election manifesto but the idea was kicked into the long grass by Tony Blair after his landslide victory.
Asked why he was looking at it now, Mr Brown said the damage done to Parliament's reputation by the expenses scandal had demonstrated the need to act. The Liberal Democrats have put forward their own amendment to the bill calling for a deadline of 30 May for any referendum, and for it to be held on the "single transferable vote" rather than the "alternative vote".
Conservative Party chairman Eric Pickles said blaming the expenses scandal on the voting system was "ridiculous" and the answer to corruption was to cut the number of MPs, which the Tories are proposing to do. The Electoral Reform Society said the vote would "send a powerful signal to voters where their MPs interests lie - whether they value job security or old prejudices over the needs of their voters".
He said the "traditional British method" of first past the post helped to "keep extremists out".
The Liberal Democrats have put forward their own amendment to the bill. The party says the AV option is "a small step in the right direction" but not a substitute for a fully fledged proportional system.
The Electoral Reform Society said the vote would show the electorate where the parties stood on an important issue.
Chief Executive Ken Ritchie said: "This vote will illustrate better than any before the divisions between and within parties. It will send a powerful signal to voters where their MPs interests lie - whether they value job security or old prejudices over the needs of their voters."