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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Clegg under fire over referendum | Clegg under fire over referendum |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Deputy PM Nick Clegg has come under fire for planning a voting system referendum on the day of elections in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. | Deputy PM Nick Clegg has come under fire for planning a voting system referendum on the day of elections in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| He wants the vote on switching from first-past-the-post on 5 May 2011. | He wants the vote on switching from first-past-the-post on 5 May 2011. |
| A succession of Tory MPs criticised the planned date and Plaid Cymru's Elfyn Llwyd saying it smacked of "contempt". | A succession of Tory MPs criticised the planned date and Plaid Cymru's Elfyn Llwyd saying it smacked of "contempt". |
| Mr Clegg also announced that 66% - rather than the previously planned 55% - of MPs would be needed to force a dissolution of Parliament. | Mr Clegg also announced that 66% - rather than the previously planned 55% - of MPs would be needed to force a dissolution of Parliament. |
| Referendum anger | Referendum anger |
| His wide-ranging statement on electoral reform included plans for fixed-term parliaments, plans to cap the number of MPs at 600 - 50 fewer than now - and to review constituency boundaries to create "fewer and more equally sized" seats. | |
| But it was his decision to set a date for a referendum on changing the voting system to the alternative vote (AV) which created an uproar among MPs from different parties. | But it was his decision to set a date for a referendum on changing the voting system to the alternative vote (AV) which created an uproar among MPs from different parties. |
| Fairly or not, electoral reform has mostly been seen as the preserve of Liberal Democrats and anoraks. | Fairly or not, electoral reform has mostly been seen as the preserve of Liberal Democrats and anoraks. |
| Ask the public, and they will express a view (the latest polling suggests a significant minority would like to see the voting system changed). Don't ask, and the subject is unlikely to come up. | Ask the public, and they will express a view (the latest polling suggests a significant minority would like to see the voting system changed). Don't ask, and the subject is unlikely to come up. |
| But today's announcement, confirming there will be legislation to hold a referendum on replacing the current first-past-the-post voting system with the Alternative Vote on May 5 2011 is deeply significant. The referendum was the Lib Dems essential precondition for a coalition deal. | But today's announcement, confirming there will be legislation to hold a referendum on replacing the current first-past-the-post voting system with the Alternative Vote on May 5 2011 is deeply significant. The referendum was the Lib Dems essential precondition for a coalition deal. |
| But the Tories have already begun to split. David Cameron and most of his party support the status quo. | But the Tories have already begun to split. David Cameron and most of his party support the status quo. |
| Some Tories, though will also oppose the legislation, and they will be joined by some on the Labour side too, despite Labour's support for a referendum at the next election. | Some Tories, though will also oppose the legislation, and they will be joined by some on the Labour side too, despite Labour's support for a referendum at the next election. |
| If the legislation fails, or if the referendum is lost, it could, conceivably, test the coalition to breaking point. | If the legislation fails, or if the referendum is lost, it could, conceivably, test the coalition to breaking point. |
| The referendum was a key part of the coalition deal between the Lib Dems, who want to change the voting system, and the Conservatives, who back first-past-the-post. | The referendum was a key part of the coalition deal between the Lib Dems, who want to change the voting system, and the Conservatives, who back first-past-the-post. |
| Their MPs will be ordered to support a referendum when legislation comes to the Commons - but they will be free to campaign on opposite sides of the debate. | Their MPs will be ordered to support a referendum when legislation comes to the Commons - but they will be free to campaign on opposite sides of the debate. |
| Several Tory MPs stood up to criticise the decision to hold a referendum on 5 May. | Several Tory MPs stood up to criticise the decision to hold a referendum on 5 May. |
| The former shadow home secretary David Davis warned it would lead to "differential turnouts which means that the subsequent referendum is unrepresentative". Mr Clegg said there were benefits and risks and they would "act in order to minimise those risks and increase the benefit". | The former shadow home secretary David Davis warned it would lead to "differential turnouts which means that the subsequent referendum is unrepresentative". Mr Clegg said there were benefits and risks and they would "act in order to minimise those risks and increase the benefit". |
| But Plaid Cymru's Elfyn Llwyd said it ignored the finding of previous reports and "sounds to me not like the respect agenda but actually the contempt agenda". | But Plaid Cymru's Elfyn Llwyd said it ignored the finding of previous reports and "sounds to me not like the respect agenda but actually the contempt agenda". |
| And DUP MP William McCrea complained there were already two sets of elections in Northern Ireland on that day - one to the Assembly and local government elections - and asked if they were expected to move one. | And DUP MP William McCrea complained there were already two sets of elections in Northern Ireland on that day - one to the Assembly and local government elections - and asked if they were expected to move one. |
| Tory MP Bernard Jenkin, who is expected to play a leading role in the "no" campaign in any referendum, said while changing the voting system was a "big deal" in Westminster, it was of "scant interest" to most people. He suggested Mr Clegg was "artificially inflating the turnout" - without any advice from the Electoral Commission. | Tory MP Bernard Jenkin, who is expected to play a leading role in the "no" campaign in any referendum, said while changing the voting system was a "big deal" in Westminster, it was of "scant interest" to most people. He suggested Mr Clegg was "artificially inflating the turnout" - without any advice from the Electoral Commission. |
| Other Tory MPs including Peter Bone, Philip Davies and Eleanor Laing stood up to criticise the planned date. | Other Tory MPs including Peter Bone, Philip Davies and Eleanor Laing stood up to criticise the planned date. |
| 'Patronising' | 'Patronising' |
| And Labour's Austin Mitchell said it was a shame Mr Clegg did not have the "guts" to stick by his desire for proportional representation - and said AV would only benefit the Lib Dems. | And Labour's Austin Mitchell said it was a shame Mr Clegg did not have the "guts" to stick by his desire for proportional representation - and said AV would only benefit the Lib Dems. |
| For Labour, Mr Straw said none of the four previous referendums in the UK had been held on the same day as an election. | For Labour, Mr Straw said none of the four previous referendums in the UK had been held on the same day as an election. |
| He added: "Would it not be altogether more sensible to consult widely on the best possible date and then add the date to the Bill in due course?" | He added: "Would it not be altogether more sensible to consult widely on the best possible date and then add the date to the Bill in due course?" |
| Mr Clegg said the referendum would be on a simple "yes or no" question at a time people were voting anyway - and it was "patronising" to suggest people could not make more than one decision on the same day. | Mr Clegg said the referendum would be on a simple "yes or no" question at a time people were voting anyway - and it was "patronising" to suggest people could not make more than one decision on the same day. |
| He argued it would cost millions to hold a referendum on another day and "additional cost, complexity and delay" would arise. | He argued it would cost millions to hold a referendum on another day and "additional cost, complexity and delay" would arise. |
| 'Wholly partisan' | 'Wholly partisan' |
| A separate power to force a dissolution is seen as an important part of plans to introduce five-year fixed-term parliaments - with the next general election being held on 7 May 2015. | A separate power to force a dissolution is seen as an important part of plans to introduce five-year fixed-term parliaments - with the next general election being held on 7 May 2015. |
| The coalition's initial plans for the figure to be 55% - lower than that used in the Scottish Parliament - had been heavily criticised by Tory backbenchers and Labour MPs. | The coalition's initial plans for the figure to be 55% - lower than that used in the Scottish Parliament - had been heavily criticised by Tory backbenchers and Labour MPs. |
| Mr Clegg said the coalition government had "listened carefully" to concerns. | Mr Clegg said the coalition government had "listened carefully" to concerns. |
| But shadow justice secretary Jack Straw said it was "the first major U-turn of this government and in less than two months". | But shadow justice secretary Jack Straw said it was "the first major U-turn of this government and in less than two months". |
| Labour MPs were furious about plans to reduce constituencies from 650 to 600, something Mr Clegg said would save £12m a year and would create "more equally sized constituencies" - a Conservative manifesto pledge. | Labour MPs were furious about plans to reduce constituencies from 650 to 600, something Mr Clegg said would save £12m a year and would create "more equally sized constituencies" - a Conservative manifesto pledge. |
| But Labour MPs stood up to accuse him of "gerrymandering". Mr Straw warned against the government trying to combine electoral reform with "wholly partisan" plans to reduce the number of MPs in a way that discriminated against Labour. | But Labour MPs stood up to accuse him of "gerrymandering". Mr Straw warned against the government trying to combine electoral reform with "wholly partisan" plans to reduce the number of MPs in a way that discriminated against Labour. |
| Mr Clegg accused Labour of "synthetic fury" adding: "Members on all sides will see the proposal to cap the number of MPs at 600 is a sensible one." | Mr Clegg accused Labour of "synthetic fury" adding: "Members on all sides will see the proposal to cap the number of MPs at 600 is a sensible one." |
| Most Conservative MPs are against a change to AV - but they will be expected to vote for the referendum bill as it was a key component of the coalition deal with the Liberal Democrats, who do want it. | Most Conservative MPs are against a change to AV - but they will be expected to vote for the referendum bill as it was a key component of the coalition deal with the Liberal Democrats, who do want it. |
| Under the proposed AV system, voters rank candidates in order of preference. | Under the proposed AV system, voters rank candidates in order of preference. |
| Anyone getting more than 50% in the first round is elected, otherwise the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and voters' second choices allocated to those remaining. This process continues until a winner emerges. | Anyone getting more than 50% in the first round is elected, otherwise the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and voters' second choices allocated to those remaining. This process continues until a winner emerges. |
| The Lib Dems would prefer a different voting system - the Single Transferable Vote - which they believe is a more proportional system than AV. | The Lib Dems would prefer a different voting system - the Single Transferable Vote - which they believe is a more proportional system than AV. |