Tory backbenchers do not have a mandate to block the AV bill

Bernard Jenkin and others better think hard before they move to strangle the key to the coalition.

By James Macintyre Published 05 July 2010 18:53

If it is true that Tory MPs such as Bernard Jenkin, among "many" others, are planning to vote down the Alternative Vote referendum bill announced by Nick Clegg in the House of Commons today, then they better think again.

The Conservative Party did not, let it be repeated, win the election outright and the referendum plan is the glue that holds the coalition with the Liberal Democrats together.

As the official coalition agreement states:

The parties will bring forward a referendum bill on electoral reform, which includes provision for the introduction of the Alternative Vote in the event of a positive result in the referendum, as well as for the creation of fewer and more equal-sized constituencies. Both parties will whip their parliamentary parties in both houses to support a simple majority referendum on the Alternative Vote, without prejudice to the positions parties will take during such a referendum.

Both parties will, as is made clear, be whipped. A rebellion against that could well bring down the fragile coalition and result in a general election.

Tags: Electoral Reform

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4 comments

Tue, 2010-07-06 10:42 — Bryan Rose Jnr (not verified)

There should be a rebellion. AV only benefits the Liberal Democrats. Conservatives and Labour will suffer the most.
Conservatives have given way to much to the Lib Dems on everything and anything, without nothing in return. Crime, Prison, Europe, Human Rights etc the list is getting endless.

Id rather have them bring down the coalition, and try and get a majority that way, then stay in government with the Lib Dems.

Tue, 2010-07-06 10:49 — John Green1

This is wishful thinking Mr. Macintyre.

There is far more cohesion in the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition than in the New Labour coalition of warring Bair and Brown tribes with their disgusting lies and negative briefings.

Most of the opposition to AV resides in the parliamentary Labour party, as typified by Ed Balls who confirmed on the Daily Politics show yesterday that his late conversion to parliamentary reform was “an election stance” and that he would now vote against it.

There was an impressive amount of horse trading before the coalition was established, providing enough glue for at least the next five years. By the end of this parliament, with the coalition well on the way to clearing up the Labour mess, there will be so much popular support that the coalition may well fight for another term of office.

Labour will have elected one of the current failed journeyman politicians and will be riding into oblivion.