NOT SURE why, but I seem to be on the mailing list for “Vote For Change”, the campaign to hand permanent Cabinet seats to the LibDems change the electoral system.
Last night I received this email from Willie Sullivan, who helps run the campaign:
Tom
I’ve just heard some great news for the campaign – and I wanted to tell you straight away. It’s what we’ve been asking for all along.
The Government’s Democratic Reform Council met yesterday: they have decided to call a vote in the Commons on a legally binding clause that will provide for a referendum on the voting system.
This is the first time the Commons will be able to vote on holding such a referendum in decades.
It’s huge – and it’s down to your hard work for our campaign.
But we haven’t won yet – opponents of reform, especially in the unelected House of Lords, will do their best to kill the bill and stop voters from having their say.
Tomorrow, the press will report this story. It’s going to be big news. But we haven’t won until a referendum is actually called.
We need to put pressure on the politicians – opponents of reform need to know we won’t let them stand in our way. With your help, I know we can do it.
Thanks for everything you have done,
Willie
And here’s how I replied:
Thanks for the alert, Willie – I’ll make sure I’m there to vote against.
Tom














Wednesday 2 December 2009 at 8:13 am
Good man. Stick it to ‘em Tom.
If you can’t win – change the rules.
Never.
Wednesday 2 December 2009 at 8:49 am
My personal preference is for some sort of multi-member constituency elections (likely a few exceptions) to the House of Lords, and then to put that to the people in a referendum after a trial, together with other constitutional issues/proposals.
HMG’s proposal will dish the Lib Dems.
Many such will vote Labour so as to ensure the referendum occurs.
Tony Blair was not enamoured of the Jenkins Report I believe, perhaps that will be widely re-read now?
Wednesday 2 December 2009 at 8:56 am
Willie obviously doesn’t know that the Labour Party don’t do referendums.
“Government’s Democratic Reform Council” has to be any oxymoron.
Wednesday 2 December 2009 at 9:03 am
Those who want a referendum to give HMG – any HMG – a kicking should welcome this.
It is a morsel to look forward to. And the obsessives and paid politicos will mostly welcome the extra interest & mazoomah . . .
When it is law, and Gordon Brown and the estimable Jack Straw are re-elected it may well be that we Brits will vote for FPTP off course . . .
Wednesday 2 December 2009 at 9:29 am
What an annoying message to receive – its you personally I’m telling this news to, the world will know about it tomorrow!
At Holyrood a few years ago we had the Lib Dems in bed with Labour; and now we have the Tories keeping the Nats going in exchange for pushing Tory buttons.
Also a few years ago, with six (or seven?) MSPs the SSP had what could have been have been a pivotal role, with what, about 8% of Scotland voting for them?
Of course you always have horsetrading and flounces under FPTP – remember the SNP let Thatcher in by refusing to bargain with Callaghan, but it seems to me the democratic deficit is more shadowy at Holyrood – deals we know about, deals we don’t, list MSPs elected whom nobody voted for and nobody wants, and an atmosphere of all-pervasive distrust.
Wednesday 2 December 2009 at 10:13 am
Hahaha!
It’s down to your hard work Tom.
How do feel about that?!?
Wednesday 2 December 2009 at 10:57 am
‘Government Announce Electoral Reform Plans‘
Mr Brown said, “it is right that we introduce electoral reform at this crucial time, when the faith of the electorate in British politics is at an all-time low. Our reforms will institute a fair, democratic system which places social justice at the heart of the electoral process.
“Our plan will show the country that the nasty Tories, who are against electoral reform, have not ’sealed the deal’ with the electorate and confirm, once and for all, that the British people want a Labour Fourth Term.”
D
Wednesday 2 December 2009 at 10:57 am
However much I might disagree with you Tom, I’m glad to see your sticking with your principles on this.
Wednesday 2 December 2009 at 10:59 am
Excellent… that is funny….
Wednesday 2 December 2009 at 11:04 am
ha ha ha
class
Wednesday 2 December 2009 at 11:18 am
Quietzapple
Wednesday 2 December 2009 at 9:03 am
When it is law, and Gordon Brown and the estimable Jack Straw are re-elected it may well be that we Brits will vote for FPTP off course .
//
If that happens, this Brit will be voting with his feet.
Having said that, I have to say that I find Brown’s proposal to make having such a referendum made a law very funny. One can only assume that this is as a result of HIM having gone to law to confirm that it is legal for him to lie in manifestos. Ergo, the only way he can convince us that he is not lying is to be completely preposterous.
It’s the same arse over tit “philosophy” that wants to legislate to make excessive public debt illegal (stop, your killing me) and to legislate to make child poverty illegal.
When will he make being a total prat illegal as well?
Wednesday 2 December 2009 at 12:28 pm
@Plodder:
Re Pratt, No you’re always welcome, but fear you’re of less use than that inestimable organ.
Wednesday 2 December 2009 at 1:06 pm
I understand Gordon Brown actually does quite favour a change in voting procedure.
It’s not entirely self serving.
Just entirely wrong.
Wednesday 2 December 2009 at 2:39 pm
@Quietzapple
“Those who want a referendum to give HMG – any HMG – a kicking should welcome this.”
How about a referendum to remove the HM from HMG? How can a so-called LABOUR party ever support a Monarchy? Intellectual and moral hypocrites.
Wednesday 2 December 2009 at 2:40 pm
Spot on Tom.My Itailian friends some are ex pats working in Germany envy our first past the post system. They tell me that weak government in Italy since the war is because of PR. Most Italians just get on with thier lives and ignore anything the government says or does. Its already happening here after 12 years of your lot so it wopuld just get worse, amd I say again that the BNP are in the Euro parliment only because of PR.
PR would ensure there are many more of them in Westminster. Is that what people want.
Wednesday 2 December 2009 at 3:25 pm
One has to be suspicious when the
also-rans share first place.
Wednesday 2 December 2009 at 5:24 pm
Quelle surprise – a Labour MP in safe seat doesn’t back an electoral system that might actually threaten his cozy, nay practically invincible, tenure as MP.
Democracy is a terribly inconvenient thing when one does so well out of the present system, is it not?
Wednesday 2 December 2009 at 10:37 pm
@Paul:
I favour a referendum on the monarchy along with other constitutional matters after a 6 year trial of an elected House of Lords. (mentioned it before, but may have escaped the attention of one or two of my fellow countryfolk)
Thursday 3 December 2009 at 12:23 pm
It’s very good for the Libs. They can vote LD, but then also vote for a proper party…
Thursday 3 December 2009 at 2:27 pm
@Mick Anderson
Willie obviously doesn’t know that the Labour Party don’t do referendums.
Major UK referendums:
1973 Northern Ireland remain in UK (Tory)
1975 Remain in EEC (Labour)
1979 Scottish Devolution (Labour)
1979 Welsh Devolution (Labour)
1997 Scottish Devolution (Labour)
1997 Welsh Devolution (Labour)
1998 Greater London Authority (Labour)
1998 Belfast Agreement (Labour)
2004 North East Regional Authority (Labour)
(from Wiki)
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