All MPs in Coventry and Warwickshire will vote ‘No’ in next month’s referendum on whether the UK should change the way we vote in elections.
A Telegraph survey shows our nine MPs are united across the party divide in opposing a switch from the current first-past-the-post system to the Alternative Vote (AV).
Opposition from Warwickshire’s six Conservative MPs – including five backbenchers newly elected last May – is in line with their party leadership’s position.
Coventry’s three Labour MPs are also in the ‘No’ camp, even though their party’s leadership under Ed Miliband is campaigning for a ‘Yes’ vote. No MP is obliged to follow their leaders’ position.
The Lib Dems demanded the referendum as part of the coalition agreement struck after last May’s General Election delivered a hung Parliament.
Voters are being asked to decide on the issue on May 5, the same day as local council elections.
AV would allow voters to choose candidates in order of preference.
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Sadly, what could have been a useful reform will instead be treated as a referendum on whether people approve of the current Con-Dem coalition and in particular the behaviour - once in office - of its Lib-Dem partners.
