We at the New Statesman have been arguing for some time that the Labour Party can no longer ignore the arguments for reform of the electoral system. Now the Fabian Society's Sunder Katwala has come out in favour of the Alternative Vote as a historic compromise Gordon Brown should find acceptable. There are now several members of the Brown camp (including Jack Straw) who have come round to the AV argument because it mainatins the constituency link. How long will it take for Brown himself to bow to the inevitable?