Referendum
This Blog is opposed to the referendum on AV and or fewer MPs for a very good reason. It is completely unesessary under our contitution. There has never been any sort of referendum over voting arrangements or franchise details for the House of Commons. These arrangements are initiated by Parliamentary majority and approved by the Monarch. All that is required is a Bill setting out the AV voting system and for that to be passed by a simple majority. It should be carried because Labour and the Lib Dems would mostly vote for it as would some Tories and the various Nationalists, who already have a fair voting system in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
By confecting a variation of the constituton (which desparately needs overhaul properly) this political move is either unconstitutional or proves that we do not have one. The argument is that if Parliament approves it then it is constitutional, so if Parliament decides on a referendum it is okay. True, but the only reason it may do this is because the Tories, who are the largest party and senior in the coaltion, believe the referndum will be lost. All this is because the Lib Dems were not tough enough in the negotiations.
It was obvious that the Tories would have been in hopeless trouble with a minority government introducing draconian cuts and would be at great electoral disadvantage if Cameron went to the country early on. Clegg should have made it clear that the price for backing the VAT rise was a bill for AV with the Tories whipped to support it.
Now we have a whole lot of political uncertainty, just when the coalition was doing so well and establishing worldwide credibility. All that is now at risk. What happens if Cameron campaigns for No and loses? Do not become confused with Wilson’s referendum to confirm Britain’s membership of the common Market in the seventies. Wilson and Heath both campaigned for a Yes, but Wilson allowed his loony left to go for No and Heath likewise with his nationalist right. When they won both extremes were the losers. This time round one part of the coalition government will lose. If it is Clegg, Cameron may be tempted to go to the country with Labour only just getting used to a new and not very exciting leader and the Lib Dems badly damaged. If Cameron loses, then an emboldened Labour and strengthened Lib Dems may lay plans which do not include him.
So this blog considers this whole episode a disgraceful waste of public money driven by a nasty streak of political cynicism. Nevertheless I shall vote Yes. Getting all MPs with over 50% of the votes in each constituency is the first step in the right direction. We just do not need another popular vote to achieve it and by doing it this way the credibility of the coalition is already damaged. Let us hope not beyond repair.