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Peter Hain plans Welsh assembly election vote change Peter Hain plans Welsh assembly election vote change
(40 minutes later)
Shadow Welsh Secretary Peter Hain is to call for a first-past-the-post voting system for future assembly elections.Shadow Welsh Secretary Peter Hain is to call for a first-past-the-post voting system for future assembly elections.
Mr Hain is hoping for cross-party support for the proposal which Labour will push for if the Westminster boundary changes go ahead.Mr Hain is hoping for cross-party support for the proposal which Labour will push for if the Westminster boundary changes go ahead.
He will meet Secretary of State Cheryl Gillan on Thursday to discuss the plans.He will meet Secretary of State Cheryl Gillan on Thursday to discuss the plans.
Changes could see constituencies cut from 40 to 30 and two members elected from each one.Changes could see constituencies cut from 40 to 30 and two members elected from each one.
The current system sees 40 constituency AMs elected by first-past-the-post with 20 more from regional lists. The current system sees 40 constituency AMs elected by first-past-the-post with 20 more from regional lists under the alternative vote system.
The Wales Office have told the Welsh Affairs Select Committee that they are currently scoping how the Parliamentary boundary changes may affect assembly boundaries but stressed that the work is at a very early stage. The Wales Office have told the Welsh Affairs Select Committee that they are currently scoping how the parliamentary boundary changes may affect assembly boundaries but stressed that the work is at a very early stage.
"In Scotland the decoupling of constituencies where Westminster and Scottish Parliament seats now have different boundaries has been disastrous," said Neath MP Mr Hain. "As we've seen in Scotland, when you separate assembly seats from parliamentary seats, it creates a great deal of confusion for voters, for parties and for the wider public," said Neath MP Mr Hain.
"If that happened in Wales, you would be likely to have a situation where one assembly seat straddled three parliamentary seats, which leads to confusion for voters, political parties and their representatives."If that happened in Wales, you would be likely to have a situation where one assembly seat straddled three parliamentary seats, which leads to confusion for voters, political parties and their representatives.
Manifesto commitmentManifesto commitment
"The only acceptable option given the AV referendum result is to have all AMs elected by first-past-the-post, and we believe that each of the 30 new constituencies should elect two AMs by that system. "I think everybody accepts there has to be change.
"There's a total agreement on this and we need to do it in a way that is non-tribal, crosses parties and seats to build consensus which I hope Cheryl Gillan does."
Mr Hain pointed out that May's referendum vote on a change from first-past-the-post to an alternative vote for general elections received a resounding no, which could clear the way for change in Wales.
"The only acceptable option given the AV referendum result is to have all AMs elected by first-past-the-post, and we believe that each of the 30 new constituencies should elect two AMs by that system," he added.
"I think in retrospect we have to accept that we got it wrong when we set up the assembly with a two-tier electoral system that has two kinds of AM, and it should now be changed."I think in retrospect we have to accept that we got it wrong when we set up the assembly with a two-tier electoral system that has two kinds of AM, and it should now be changed.
"We believe the only change that would be possible without a further referendum or General Election manifesto commitment is a change to first past the post. "We believe the only change that would be possible without a further referendum or general election manifesto commitment is a change to first past the post.
"The case for AV at Westminster level was defeated by a thumping majority for first-past-the-post. This is the only voting system that commands cross-party and public support in Wales.""The case for AV at Westminster level was defeated by a thumping majority for first-past-the-post. This is the only voting system that commands cross-party and public support in Wales."
But Mr Hain rejected the proposal was a bid to strengthen Labour's grip in Wales. The party is running the Welsh Government single-handedly following May's assembly elections.
"In the end it's not about who wins and who loses, it's about accepting the verdict of the electorate and they were clear in this referendum," he said.