A commission on voting reform is essential | Electoral reform

Your report (Labour MPs will push Burnham to back voting reform in first 100 days, 25 August) says: “The UK last rejected electoral reform in 2011 after a referendum [on] whether to change to an alternative vote system.” Many people do not realise that the referendum was not about a proportional electoral system. While the alternative vote is the best way to elect a single person, it really doesn’t work for a government.

That referendum was primarily a popularity contest for Nick Clegg, and it is no surprise that he was rejected, predominantly by people who were not aware of the actual terms of the referendum. A national commission, taking evidence from people across the country, followed by a general election that includes a manifesto commitment to changing the system, will be a far more reliable and accurate representation of the views of the British people than a referendum is ever likely to be.
Sandy Martin
Chair, Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform

The amendment to the representation of the people bill on which you report is not the only thing to which the government will have to reply. By law they will have to respond to a parliamentary petition, initiated by me, which calls for the setting up of a national commission in line with the all-party parliamentary group’s proposal.

The petition states that it should be an independent, time limited, expert-led review to build consensus for changing the electoral system for parliament. Already more than 25,000 people have signed – twice the number required to trigger a government response. It is eagerly awaited.
Joan Ruddock
Former Labour MP and minister