No to AV referendum broadcast
It is only in the last few weeks that I have finally made a decision over how I'm going to vote. I found myself rather conflicted as I consider myself to be progressive and support a change to the electoral system but I do not believe that the alternative vote system is the right way to go.
My main reasons for voting against are:
- It will increase the chance of coalitions. When coalitions are formed the governing parties can tear up their manifestos and start again with a coalition agreement. I am not saying that parties in the future will sell out as badly as the Lib Dems have, but it is likely that parties will have to renege of pre-election promises.
- It is not proportional representation. If this system genuinely created a level playing field for all parties I could be convinced, but this system only benefits the medium size parties like the Lib Dems and possibly UKIP in some areas. Smaller parties are likely to get lower preferences from the majority of electorate so are unlikely to be successful. This may be attractive because it keeps out the BNP, but it will also probably make it more difficult for the Greens or socialist parties to get elected.
- You could have a situation where the 2nd of even 3rd party with the most first preferences ends up winning. This could lead to dull middle of the road parties who stand for very little, which is probably why the Lib Dems like it.
- Finally I see it as a negative system. Apart from your first preference you are using the rest of your preferences to keep out the party you hate the most. In reality there is only one party you want to win, the rest of you votes are being used to block another party from getting in.
What does surprise me is that the Tories are against it. Chances are they will get a lot of 2nd and 3rd votes off UKIP, English Democrat and BNP voters as well as a good chunk of Lib Dem voters. Alongside the re-drawing (or gerrymandering) of boundaries they must be on to a winner if it goes through. Where as it is not too clear that it will advantage Labour as this Channel 4 report shows.
My preference for an electoral system would be to keep the current system and have a proportion of seats used as top up seats so that the smaller parties are represented. That way we would have a fairer system whilst keeping the constituency link.
