Politics: UK Government: The Constitution: Electoral Reform

Jenkins Commission

- Roy rJenkins (Lib dems) in charge of looking after electoral reform
- Jenkins Report UK
- Find alternative system that:
+ Broad proportionality results
+ Stable gov
+ Extension of voter's choice
+ Maintain MP link with geographical constituents
- in 1998, AV+ was the best system
- Labour did not implement, Jenkins died 2003.
- Kept promising in manifestos in 2005 and 2010

Where were new systems used?

- Labour failed to change the new electoral system for Westminister general elections, new systems for regional elections for devolved assemblies
+ Scottish Parliament
+ Welsh Assembly
+ Northern Irish Assembly

Electoral Reforms Promised

- In 2010 when Tories and Lib Dems formed a coalition, there was a referendum on electoral reform
- AV Referendum May 2011
- AV preferred not proportional

Electoral Reform Fails

- 68% voted no to AV
- Only 42% turnout
- Votes against lib dems more than AV as they promised tuition fees reduction but instead increased, popular voting point in manifestos for young people