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This is a model response to the Party's consultation on the Jenkins' report on
electoral systems. Feel free to download it and use it in any way.
1. The Commission had four criteria to consider in
recommending an alternative system.
How do you think AV-plus fares in
relation to these criteria:
Under AV-plus it is unlikely that voters would experience a stable majority Labour
government. Instead AV-plus would greatly increase the likelihood of coalition government
allowing the Liberal Democrats to hold the balance of power in Parliament. This has
certainly been the recent experience in Scotland and Wales. The Jenkins Commission
calculated that nine out of the last fourteen governments would have been coalition or
minority administrations had elections been fought under
AV-plus.
- extension of voter choice
Jenkins makes clear in the Commission's report that he hopes AV-plus will encourage
parties to converge upon the centre ground in an effort to court 2nd and 3rd preference
votes. If this aim is realised voter choice will clearly be diminished.
Also, under AV-plus, if electors wish their vote to 'count' they are unlikely to have
the option of voting for any party other than those already represented in Parliament
under FPTP. As the Jenkins Report makes clear, had the 1997 General Election been fought
under AV-plus 'the lowest percentage of the total vote which would have placed a party in
likely contention for a top- up seat would have been 10.9 per cent.' Real 'voter choice'
is, therefore, unlikely to be extended.
- maintenance of constituency link
The best way to maintain MPs links with their constituencies would be to stick with the
current FPTP system. Under AV-plus the 15-20 per cent 'top-up' MPs will have no
responsibilities to a constituency, while a smaller number of constituency MPs will have
to serve larger areas than at present.
AV-plus would improve the Liberal Democrat's representation in Parliament, which is
what Lord Jenkins set out to achieve.
2. The Labour Party
- Should the Labour Party take a formal position in any referendum on the voting system?
Yes, we should support the status-quo.
- How do you think the introduction of A V-plus would affect Labour's campaigning to
achieve its electoral and political aims?
Under AV-plus Labour would almost certainly have to go into coalition with the Liberal
Democrats in order to form a government. This appears to be what some senior advisors to
the leadership want - for example Philip Gould, as set out in his book The Unfinished
Revolution.
Anything other than a majority Labour government would, however, severely weaken
Labour's ability to achieve its political aims. As those who have experienced Liberal-run
councils around the country will know, the Liberal Democrats are no friends of the labour
movement. And, if Labour were forced to curtail its electoral pledges as a result of
back-room deals with the Liberals to secure a coalition administration, this could lead to
serious disenchantment amongst our core supporters.
3. The role of MPs
- How do you see the role of the 'top-up 'MPs proposed under A V-plus?
As Jenkins makes clear in his report, the 'top-up' element of AV-plus is intended to
significantly improve Liberal Democrat representation in Parliament. The Jenkins
Commission calculated that under AV-plus the Liberals would have gained 43 seats at the
1997 General Election, while Labour would have lost 51. In 1992 the Liberals would have
won 54 extra seats and Labour forfeited 31.
- How do you think FPTP and A V-plus fare on the issues of accountability and
transparency?
AV-plus would reduce accountability and transparency. Many MPs would have no specific
constituency responsibilities and those that did would see their workload greatly
increased compared with the present situation, thus reducing their ability to provide
effective help to their constituents.
'Top-up' MPs will be elected from party lists. Our experience of the vetting processes
adopted by Labour for the selection of Euro MP and Greater London Authority councillor
candidates has generated concern that these lists will be drawn up without the democratic
involvement of the local party. This could reduce the numbers of independent-minded MPs in
parliament, something that would not only be detrimental to the democratic process but
which is known to be unpopular with the electorate.
- Will public trust in Parliament and MPs be improved by the introduction of A V-plus?
Probably not. Experience elsewhere demonstrates that coalition government can be
chaotic, harming public confidence in parliament. An impression of behind the scenes fixes
between coalition partners could also result in electoral apathy.
4. Wider issues
- What role do you see for electoral reform in the context of Labour's other
constitutional reforms?
None
- In seeking an election result from a particular system, what should be the balance
between proportionality of representation and proportionality of power between parties?
The most important thing about any electoral system is the kind of government it
produces. Lord Jenkins candidly admits that the AV-plus system is designed to increase
Liberal Democrat representation in Parliament and to encourage a Lib-Lab coalition or,
ultimately, a fusion between the two parties. First Past The Post, on the other hand,
gives the electorate the opportunity to vote for a majority Labour government, able to
implement the policies we believe are in the best interests of this country.
That said, even if one did conclude that striving to achieve strict proportionality
between votes cast and seats won is more important that any other factors, AV-plus is an
inadequate system. That is why many supporters of PR are opposed to AV-plus.
- How can the electoral system encourage people to vote, especially the young?
Young people, like most other members of the electorate, are more likely to participate
in elections if they think their vote will achieve something. That is, that their voting
will result in dynamic, effective government. FPTP is more likely to generate such
enthusiasm as under this system elections are usually a straightforward battle between two
or more differing programmes.
- If change is approved, how could public support and knowkdge be established in the
run-up to the new system 's adoption?
The Labour Party should campaign to retain First Past The Post and to improve public
awareness of the problems with AV-plus.
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