Make My Vote Count

The campaign for voter choice and a more representative parliament

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What about Labour's manifesto promises on PR?

Voting reformers will welcome Labour's manifesto commitment to carry through its review of voting systems in Britain and their implications for Westminster. This leaves the door open for proposals for a new voting system to be finalised, and put to the voters in a referendum, in the new parliament.

"This is good news", said David Lipsey, Chairman of the umbrella voting reform organisation Make Votes Count. "Tony Blair has now decisively slapped down the Labour reactionaries who cling to first-past-the-post."

"In the event of a small or even no Labour majority - and that is a possibility that seems less and less unrealistic as poll follows poll - a deal with the Lib Deems with electoral reform at its very heart is now on the cards."

This general election campaign is exposing the appalling failings of Britain's Neanderthal first-past-the-post voting system:

  • The two main parties are reported to have identified the 800,000 swing voters in marginal seats (less than 2% of the electorate) who will decide the outcome, the votes of the remaining 98% in effect don't matter
     
  • if the system displays the same anti-Tory bias as in 2001, it is estimated that an equal share of the vote would give Labour a massive 137 seat advantage over the Conservatives
     
  • would-be voters have to guess how to use a tactical vote effectively, rather than being able to vote in order of choice.

Make Votes Count will be challenging all prospective Parliamentary candidates to sign up for reform using its new campaigning web site www.makemyvotecount.org.uk

Note for editors:
Labour's 2001 manifesto said: "We will review the experience of the new systems and Jenkins report to assess whether changes might be made to the electoral system for the House of Commons. A referendum remains the right way to agree any change for Westminster."

The new manifesto is expected to add: "this remains our commitment. The Independent Commission looking at reform reported in the last spring, and we wanted to take into account the experience of the European elections which were held in June last year before proceeding with any review."

Press contacts:
David Lipsey pager: 08700555500 number 802866
Nina Temple 02079282076 or 02076872685