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Carwyn Jones writes to David Cameron over vote change | Carwyn Jones writes to David Cameron over vote change |
(about 1 hour later) | |
First Minister Carwyn Jones has written to the Prime Minister to seek assurances that the assembly electoral system will not be changed without the agreement of the Welsh people. | First Minister Carwyn Jones has written to the Prime Minister to seek assurances that the assembly electoral system will not be changed without the agreement of the Welsh people. |
Mr Jones's letter to David Cameron was sent last week, it has been confirmed. | Mr Jones's letter to David Cameron was sent last week, it has been confirmed. |
It is understood Mr Cameron has given a verbal agreement that Wales will retain its 60 assembly members. | |
It follows speculation that the voting system could be changed from its current state. | It follows speculation that the voting system could be changed from its current state. |
Meanwhile, a report from the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) claims Labour would win "disproportionately" more seats if all Welsh assembly members were elected via the first-past-the-post system. | Meanwhile, a report from the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) claims Labour would win "disproportionately" more seats if all Welsh assembly members were elected via the first-past-the-post system. |
The ERS says scrapping semi-proportional elections would deny thousands of voters a voice. | The ERS says scrapping semi-proportional elections would deny thousands of voters a voice. |
Labour insists it opposes changing the electoral system and accused the ERS of "misrepresenting" its position. | Labour insists it opposes changing the electoral system and accused the ERS of "misrepresenting" its position. |
At present, 40 AMs are elected in first-past-the-post contests and 20 are elected from regional lists. | At present, 40 AMs are elected in first-past-the-post contests and 20 are elected from regional lists. |
Labour has looked into potential changes in the wake of UK government plans to cut the number of MPs from 40 to 30. | Labour has looked into potential changes in the wake of UK government plans to cut the number of MPs from 40 to 30. |
The party opposes reducing the number of assembly constituencies to match the boundaries of new parliamentary seats. | The party opposes reducing the number of assembly constituencies to match the boundaries of new parliamentary seats. |
But if changes are forced through, it would favour replacing the current system with 30 two-member constituencies, with all AMs elected by first-past-the-post. | But if changes are forced through, it would favour replacing the current system with 30 two-member constituencies, with all AMs elected by first-past-the-post. |
It has been confirmed that Mr Jones wrote to Mr Cameron last week, by-passing Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan, to insist that the electoral system for the assembly is not to be changed without a mandate from the Welsh people. | It has been confirmed that Mr Jones wrote to Mr Cameron last week, by-passing Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan, to insist that the electoral system for the assembly is not to be changed without a mandate from the Welsh people. |
He is yet to receive a formal reply but it is understood the Prime Minister has given a verbal agreement that there will not be any changes without further consultation. | He is yet to receive a formal reply but it is understood the Prime Minister has given a verbal agreement that there will not be any changes without further consultation. |
A report for the ERS by academics at Aberystwyth University's Institute of Welsh Politics looks at what the results of May's assembly election could have been under different voting systems. | A report for the ERS by academics at Aberystwyth University's Institute of Welsh Politics looks at what the results of May's assembly election could have been under different voting systems. |
It says that under the system proposed by Labour, the party would have won 11 more seats - 41 instead of 30, giving Labour 70% of the Senedd on 42% of the vote. | It says that under the system proposed by Labour, the party would have won 11 more seats - 41 instead of 30, giving Labour 70% of the Senedd on 42% of the vote. |
'Damage democracy' | 'Damage democracy' |
Steve Brooks, Wales director of the Electoral Reform Society, said: "While this may be good news for aspiring Labour candidates, its bad news for Welsh voters. | Steve Brooks, Wales director of the Electoral Reform Society, said: "While this may be good news for aspiring Labour candidates, its bad news for Welsh voters. |
"Two member first-fast-the-post would rob thousands of voters of a choice and voice." | "Two member first-fast-the-post would rob thousands of voters of a choice and voice." |
He said the Conservatives, Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats would have less than a third of seats, despite getting more than half the votes in May. | He said the Conservatives, Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats would have less than a third of seats, despite getting more than half the votes in May. |
"That would be damaging for democracy and damaging for devolution," he said. | "That would be damaging for democracy and damaging for devolution," he said. |
Report's authors Roger Scully and Owain ap Gareth say that if assembly and parliamentary boundaries are "decoupled", they would favour having 80 AMs elected through the Single Transferable Vote (STV) - something recommended by the cross-party Richard Commission into devolution in 2004. | Report's authors Roger Scully and Owain ap Gareth say that if assembly and parliamentary boundaries are "decoupled", they would favour having 80 AMs elected through the Single Transferable Vote (STV) - something recommended by the cross-party Richard Commission into devolution in 2004. |
The ERS said that, in general, STV was its preferred electoral system. | The ERS said that, in general, STV was its preferred electoral system. |
A Labour spokesman said the society had "misrepresented" the party's position. | A Labour spokesman said the society had "misrepresented" the party's position. |
"And our position is crystal clear - the Tories in Westminster have no mandate for changing the electoral system in Wales," he said. | "And our position is crystal clear - the Tories in Westminster have no mandate for changing the electoral system in Wales," he said. |
"That is our 'preferred option'. It is a great shame that instead of supporting calls for Welsh people to be asked beforehand on any change to their voting system, the ERS have instead decided to issue a bizarre statement that is patently untrue and disturbingly skewed." | "That is our 'preferred option'. It is a great shame that instead of supporting calls for Welsh people to be asked beforehand on any change to their voting system, the ERS have instead decided to issue a bizarre statement that is patently untrue and disturbingly skewed." |
A party source said two-member seats had never been used in assembly or Westminster elections so it was impossible to predict how people would vote. | A party source said two-member seats had never been used in assembly or Westminster elections so it was impossible to predict how people would vote. |
Some chose to split their votes between parties in multiple-member council wards at local elections, he added. | Some chose to split their votes between parties in multiple-member council wards at local elections, he added. |