Fair Votes

Written by Jacquie Bell and published in Darlington & Stockton Times on Fri 9th Oct 2009

The Editor

Darlington and Stockton Times

2/10/09

Dear Sir

The summertime issue of MPs expenses also raised questions about voting reform.

For decades the Liberals/Liberal Democrats have raised questions about the voting system. The fight for Proportional Representation was a reason why I joined the Party.

The Liberal Democrat Conference in Bournemouth debated the issues of First Past the Post Voting supporting safe seats. This leads to concerns about the arrogance of safe members who felt free to use the expenses system to their advantage.

The use of STV in Scottish local elections in 2007 removed safe Labour fiefdoms. Scottish politics was transformed to the better by the change.

Labour are now offering a referendum on AV but this is not the most proportional system of fair voting.

Voters need a right to a debate on not only fair voting but also the system of fair voting used in future elections.

Matters should be decided before the next General Election.

Yours faithfully

Jacquie Bell