The Alternative Vote Referendum bill passed through the delay of the House of Lords last week, and now the first national referendum in the UK will be held on May 5.
While promised by Prime Minister David Cameron, the Conservative oppose, while the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, supports the measure which would could change Britain's first-past-the-post voting system.
(See my briefing article linked under UK Legislature on the WV Thought Hive)
The BBC breaks down Clegg v. Cameron AV arguments:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12495429
The Guardian has video of their arguments:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/video/2011/feb/18/alternative-vote-david-cameron
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/video/2011/feb/18/nick-clegg-av-yes-vote-video?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3486
Too Close to Call
By the way, polls say the yes campaign is leading by a statistically insignificant 51% to 49%.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/feb/21/av-campaigns-icm-poll
2 comments:
We should know very well in the School District how important small margins of majority are. The second referendum to build Metea only passed with a 51 per cent majority. Mr Clegg needs the referendum to pass to regain the credibiltiy that he lost after he and the LibDems voted to increase university fees (which still manage to be lower than U of I's), after signing a pledge they wouldn't before the election last May.
The Tories benefit from not only status quo but any privitisation measures (or what looks like it). Many tory constituencies are only blue because of a vote split between Labour and the LibDems, especially around Wales, Bristol, Manchester and York and Nottingham.
Would Chicago's possible two-tiered mayoral election day be better with a first-past-the post, one and done system?
Would an AV be better, or essentially the same as a 1-2 runoff if the top dog does not get 50% plus one?
Add your vote in the blogosphere. Will there be a runoff election in Chicago? If so, Rahm and who?
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