Grown-up government shouldn’t hide from Referendum

Published: Tuesday, May 25th 2010

The Electoral Reform Society has responded to the noticeable lack of detail on the proposed referendum in today’s Queen’s Speech.

Dr Ken Ritchie, Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society said:

“Voting reform was a make-or-break issue in coalition negotiations, and it will remain a point of controversy until the government names a date for the referendum. 

“Lib Dems and Conservatives are demonstrating a maturity few could have expected given the scare mongering about coalition governments. But hiding from the commitment to a referendum is not what the public expect from a grown-up government.

“This referendum will be the litmus test for democratic reform. The government says it wants to give power back to the people, well letting voters decide on the door policy for the House of Commons seems the right place to start.”

The government’s plans to legislate to ‘Reduce and Equalize’ constituencies in the House of Commons – presented in the Conservative manifesto as ‘Fair Vote’ reforms. Dr Ritchie added. 

“This coalition has put the cart before the horse by putting boundary reviews ahead of commitments for a referendum.

“It is worrying that the government is rushing into a ‘Reduce and Equalize’ policy that has little do with fairness. Any ‘Fair Vote’ reforms worth having must begin by tackling First-Past-the-Post."

Contacts

For more information, comment or interviews please contact Ashley Dé on 07968791684 or Dr Ken Ritchie on 07754165551