Voting reform plan is “complete travesty”, says Hain

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s plans for electoral reform amount to a “complete travesty” with unforeseen damage for Wales, Shadow Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said this week

by René Lavanchy
Saturday, July 10th, 2010

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s plans for electoral reform amount to a “complete travesty” with unforeseen damage for Wales, Shadow Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said this week.

Mr Hain, a veteran supporter of replacing the first-past-the-post system with the alternative vote in general elections, told Tribune he could not support Mr Clegg’s bill, which ties an AV referendum to a constituency boundary review which will see the number of MPs cut from 650 to 600.

Under the coalition’s plans, even if the planned May 2011 referendum yields a yes vote, the next general election cannot be fought under AV until the boundary review is complete. The rule is apparently designed to prevent the Lib Dems abandoning the coalition and forcing an election after a yes vote.

Mr Hain said: “I remain a strong supporter of the alternative vote but the way they have grossly manipulated the bill is a complete travesty and risks alienating people on the left who want to see voting reform”.
Because Welsh Assembly constituencies follow parliamentary ones, he added, cutting Welsh MPs from 40 to the planned 30 would remove ten constituency assembly seats and five list seats, reducing the assembly from 60 to 45. “They’ve not thought it through at all”.

Mr Hain also joined Shadow Justice Secrtary Jack Straw in condemning the boundary changes as “gerrymandering” that would hit Labour areas, where large numbers of unregistered voters would be overlooked.

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About The Author

René Lavanchy is staff reporter for Tribune
  • sid

    Hain, Straw and the other hypocrites who intend to oppose AV have to dress up their selfish opportunism with righteous indignation of gerrymandering. People who don’t register don’t count. This has suited all politicians, content in the knowledge thousands of malcontent’s barred themselves from having any effect on elections. Hain, Straw and his cronies don’t fool anyone. Once again self serving politicians demonstrate their total opposition at any attempt to cut numbers and improve our voting system. By their actions ye shall know them.

  • sid

    Hain, Straw and the other hypocrites who intend to oppose AV have to dress up their selfish opportunism with righteous indignation of gerrymandering. People who don’t register don’t count. This has suited all politicians, content in the knowledge thousands of malcontent’s barred themselves from having any effect on elections. Hain, Straw and his cronies don’t fool anyone. Once again self serving politicians demonstrate their total opposition at any attempt to cut numbers and improve our voting system. By their actions ye shall know them.

  • swatantra

    Hain is basically complaining against the reduction in number of MPS and reorganisation of boundaries. Not against AV. Hope 2 separate Bills come to Parliament. Hain should support the AV, and maybe the reduction in MPs as long as constituencies are drawn up fairly, for Labour.

  • swatantra

    Hain is basically complaining against the reduction in number of MPS and reorganisation of boundaries. Not against AV. Hope 2 separate Bills come to Parliament. Hain should support the AV, and maybe the reduction in MPs as long as constituencies are drawn up fairly, for Labour.