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Left Foot Forward > Published by Rupert Read, July 1st 2010 at 5:17 pm

AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May

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Left Foot Forward understands from a source close to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister that the timetable for the promised referendum on AV will be announced next week, and that the referendum itself is most likely to be scheduled to coincide with the May 2011 Local Elections. Many on the Left believe that success in the referendum is crucial to the possibility of a more pluralist and supportive political culture on the Left (and indeed across British politics in general); see my article here for example.

Ballot-boxThe three frontrunners in the Labour leadership race are all unequivocally in favour of the alternative vote; Diane Abbott and Andy Burnham, however, have not yet pledged their full support. The Liberal Democrats, naturally, will support it. Some in the Green Party seem uncertain whether or not to join them in compromising and backing AV, rather than holding out for PR.

But a motion going to Green Party Conference this September proposed and seconded by Jean Lambert MEP and myself and also signed by Deputy Leader Adrian Ramsay will (if passed) commit the Party to supporting AV, on various grounds, including that it largely eliminates tactical voting and the ‘wasted vote’ argument.

Yesterday, the New Statesman reported Tory leader David Cameron was “considering” backing electoral reform. The Staggers’ James Macintyre wrote:

In order to persuade his MPs to accept the Lib Dem demand for a referendum during the coalition negotiations, he made it clear they can campaign for a “No” vote. And there is no doubt he will stick to that. What is in doubt, however, is the assumption – widely held across Westminster, including among Lib Dem cabinet ministers – that he himself will back publicly the “No”‘ campaign.

Instead, in a sign of how deep the pact between himself and Nick Clegg may yet become, I understand that Cameron is considering supporting a “Yes” vote. He will not campaign for it like Clegg, but he could state his support much nearer the time.

UPDATE:

The BBC, Guardian and others are now reporting this story but credit to the New Statesman’s James Macintyre for being the only journalist to credit Left Foot Forward for breaking the story. This story’s author, Rupert Read, has more on his own blog.

  • http://twitter.com/stabprin/status/17503499251 Stable & Principled

    RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/flotom/status/17503575887 Alan

    RT @leftfootfwd AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz <- And I will be voting NO

  • http://twitter.com/democracyuk/status/17503581236 Direct Democracy

    RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/jacksontar/status/17503657275 David Glass

    RT @FloTom: RT @leftfootfwd AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz <- And I will be voting NO

  • http://twitter.com/houseoftwits/status/17503669447 House Of Twits

    RT @leftfootfwd AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/jimmelly/status/17503728919 Jim Melly

    RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz >bad strategy for those pro-AV: LibDem backlash

  • http://twitter.com/kevinmckeever/status/17503759953 Kevin McKeever

    RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz << where can I sign up to the YES campaign!

  • http://twitter.com/bourbons3/status/17503806946 Ben Farress

    RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/rupertread/status/17504348331 RupertRead

    BREAKING NEWS: My latest piece on Left Foot Forward: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May 2011!: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/paulstpancras/status/17504399696 paulstpancras

    RT @jimmelly: RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz >bad strategy for those pro-AV: LibDem backlash

  • http://twitter.com/ns_mehdihasan/status/17504639458 Mehdi Hasan

    RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/liammckee/status/17504842274 Liam McKee

    News of announcement if electoral reform referendum. http://bit.ly/a4LtOJ #labour #ukpolitics #av

  • http://twitter.com/elganjohn/status/17504850160 elgan

    RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/shamikdas/status/17504935900 Shamik Das

    EXCLUSIVE from @RupertRead on @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May 2011: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/chrisw100/status/17505273582 Chris Williams

    RT @RupertRead AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May 2011: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz < I believe Greens will back a yes vote

  • http://twitter.com/james_macintyre/status/17505410374 James Macintyre

    RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/oldhoborn/status/17505457396 Old Holborn

    RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/nadiashanaz/status/17505536132 Nadia

    RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/therealdarcher/status/17505845030 Dan Archer

    RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/trumptonfireman/status/17505898830 Graham_Pugh

    AV a word…PR referendum to be held next May, 30% in June and the remaining minority in July. Me, I'd rather 'ave STV. http://bit.ly/bsGH4j

  • http://twitter.com/darrenmillaram/status/17506429804 Darren Millar

    RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/harigriffiths/status/17506512454 Angharad Griffiths

    RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/psbook/status/17506654063 Political Scrapbook

    RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/jameswharrison/status/17506956548 James Harrison

    RT @psbook: RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/jon2aylor/status/17507136250 Jonathan Taylor

    RT @psbook: RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/david_stringer/status/17507433795 David Stringer

    RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/speedupdating/status/17508188220 Nick Speed

    RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/markrugman/status/17508820447 Mark Rugman

    “@leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz” > most interesting!

  • http://twitter.com/tweetminster/status/17509428027 Tweetminster

    RT @leftfootfwd AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/albertonardelli/status/17509431897 Alberto Nardelli

    RT @leftfootfwd AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/chorltonian/status/17509587627 Hugo Collingridge

    RT @tweetminster: RT @leftfootfwd AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/sunny_hundal/status/17509723631 sunny hundal

    Tonight, @leftfootfwd is reporting that an AV referendum will be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/lebonners/status/17509809368 Bonners

    RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/jo_simmonds/status/17509896736 Jo Simmonds

    RT @chrisw100: RT @RupertRead AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May 2011: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz < I believe Greens wil …

  • http://twitter.com/hitchineng/status/17510111716 Hitchin England

    RT @leftfootfwd AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz via @TweetMinster

  • http://twitter.com/janeayres/status/17510191504 Jane Ayres

    RT @leftfootfwd AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/policyaddict/status/17511126518 Policy Addict

    RT @sunny_hundal: Tonight, @leftfootfwd is reporting that an AV referendum will be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/andrewcowler/status/17511132646 Andrew Cowler

    RT @tweetminster: RT @leftfootfwd AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/alexander_ball/status/17511796975 Alex Ball

    RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/andy_s_64/status/17516666931 Andy Sutherland

    RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/lnardini/status/17517139388 Loren Nardini

    RT @tweetminster: RT @leftfootfwd AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/voteforachange/status/17517365380 Vote For A Change

    We're looking at an announcment next week and a referendum next May. Bring it on! http://fb.me/DHxhDe2t

  • http://twitter.com/ishbroken/status/17517430136 Ross Pollard

    RT @VoteForAChange: We're looking at an announcment next week and a referendum next May. Bring it on! http://fb.me/DHxhDe2t

  • http://twitter.com/libdan1975/status/17518936689 Daniel Russell
  • http://twitter.com/trakgalvis/status/17519776712 Trakgalvis

    AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz via @leftfootfwd

  • Mr. Sensible

    I personally will be voting no.

    I do not support this.

  • http://twitter.com/RupertRead Rupert Read

    It seems like our scoop may have brought the announcement forward! I understand from the Beeb that we are imminently to learn the date – which will confirm our story.

  • http://twitter.com/RupertRead Rupert Read

    Update: Still no official announcement – looks like the coalition are sticking to announcing the date officially next week (I think they would look bad if they didn’t announce it through Parliament). BUT: I just saw James Landale (Beeb Political Correspondent) confirm that the BBC believes that the LFF story that I broke above is correct: That they will announce that the referendum will be held on May 5 2011.

  • http://twitter.com/norwichgreens/status/17521949875 NorwichGreenParty

    Rupert Read's breaking news on Left Foot Forward: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May 2011!: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/rupertread/status/17522491396 RupertRead

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/politics/10483841.stm This story confirms the scoop I broke earlier today: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz :-)

  • http://twitter.com/swirlingleaf/status/17522570763 Julia

    RT @VoteForAChange We're looking at an announcment next week and a referendum next May. Bring it on! http://fb.me/DHxhDe2t

  • http://twitter.com/deepngreen/status/17522599190 Ashley Baxter

    RT @leftfootfwd: AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/philrandal/status/17522692704 Phil Randal

    RT @RupertRead: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/politics/10483841.stm This story confirms the scoop I broke earlier today: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz :-)

  • http://twitter.com/tomsheppard/status/17523412799 Tom Sheppard

    How will Cameron vote on AV? #LeftFootForward think he may vote yes… http://is.gd/dbRST

  • http://twitter.com/wdjstraw/status/17524992523 Will Straw

    RT @bbcpolitics: A referendum on electoral reform is expected to be held on 5 May next year << Broken by @leftfootfwd http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/patternjuggler/status/17525053032 D R Mason

    RT @wdjstraw: RT @bbcpolitics: A referendum on electoral reform is expected to be held on 5 May next year << Broken by @leftfootfwd http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/iain1976/status/17525066797 Iain Wilson

    RT @tweetminster: RT @leftfootfwd AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May: http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/paulsandars/status/17525707503 Paul Sandars

    RT @wdjstraw: RT @bbcpolitics: A referendum on electoral reform is expected to be held on 5 May next year << Broken by @leftfootfwd http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://twitter.com/williesully/status/17526559461 willie Sullivan

    RT @wdjstraw: RT @bbcpolitics: A referendum on electoral reform is expected to be held on 5 May next year << Broken by @leftfootfwd http://bit.ly/bMDDOz

  • http://www.voting.ukscientists.com Richard Lung

    The Alternative Vote wastes first preference votes, the most important votes for everyone. Whereas in the 2007 Scottish local elections, the single transferable vote elected virtually three-quarters of voters’ first preferences. With bigger multi-member constituencies, STV would have given an even more proportional representation.
    We should recognise the AV referendum as a pre-empted referendum by the Labour and Tory parties giving their first and second choices, which nobody else wanted but we are all expected to put-up with. A not good enough referendum.

  • http://twitter.com/greenrupertread/status/17555518784 RupertRead

    RT @wdjstraw: RT @bbcpolitics: Referendum on electoral reform to be held on 5May next year; Broken by @leftfootfwd http://bit.ly/bMDDOz <Yep

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/07/politics-summary-friday-july-2nd/ Politics Summary: Friday, July 2nd | Left Foot Forward

    [...] papers cover the news, broken by Left Foot Forward yesterday afternoon, that there will be a referendum on the Alternative Vote next May. The Guardian [...]

  • http://another-green-world.blogspot.com/ Derek Wall

    My thoughts here, its a very dangerous situation for the Green Party and all those who want votes to count
    http://tiny.cc/o4i5b

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/07/look-left-the-week-in-fast-forward-02-07-10/ Look Left – The Week in Fast Forward | Left Foot Forward

    [...] next May, a story the BBC has been leading on today and last night – and a story broken by Left Foot Forward yesterday [...]

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/07/coalition-announces-u-turn-on-dissolution-resolution/ Coalition announces u-turn on dissolution resolution | Left Foot Forward

    [...] by Nick Clegg of a referendum on the Alternative Vote next year – a story first broken by this blog – the Deputy Prime Minister slipped out a u-turn on the controversial dissolution resolution. [...]

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/07/lib-dem-turkeys-vote-for-christmas/ Lib Dem turkeys vote for Christmas | Left Foot Forward

    [...] reveals. In his statement on constitutional and political reform, in which he confirmed the news broken by Left Foot Forward a week ago, that a referendum of electoral reform would be held on May 5th next year, the deputy [...]

  • http://broadleftblogging.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/don%e2%80%99t-be-a-dinosaur-get-on-board-in-the-battle-for-av/ Don’t be a dinosaur: Get on board in the battle for AV « Broad Left Blogging

    [...] the person who broke the news nationally that the AV referendum will be on the first Thursday in May, next year, it is obvious that this is [...]

  • http://broadleftblogging.wordpress.com/2010/09/09/is-norwich-about-to-go-green/ Is Norwich about to go Green? « Broad Left Blogging

    [...] impact upon how we might benefit from a positive outcome in next year’s AV referendum (See this & this). As things stand AV is unlikely to propel us into very many 3rd places which is where [...]

  • http://broadleftblogging.wordpress.com/2011/02/21/a-new-proposal-for-a-green-future%e2%80%a6-how-house-of-lords-reform-should-really-be-done/ A new proposal for a green future… How House of Lords reform should really be done « Broad Left Blogging

    [...] and Wales (incidentally, this date is one which I first broke to the nation, scooping the BBC and everyone else), it is a good time to reflect on the strange beast that is the House of Lords, that almost [...]