From the polls shown in the article, it is clear to see that the electrate tend to vote 'anti-governemt' - and you don't have to be a genius to work out why. I think that poeple that want a change of government will be forced then to vote labour and one other party. Personally, i fear that in more right-wing constituences you will see a rise in smaller parties, such as UKIP and the BNP. Equally, people that usually vote for either the lib dems or the tories, will then not want to vote for the other (to avoid another post-elction sham)- and the age of tactical voting would have well and turly begun! (although i am more that aware that it has been going on less obvioulsy for many years now)

The only hope Labour has of remaining the official opposition party in the future is to own up with honesty to the lies and the incompetence of the regressive Blair and Brown years. An apology would help its cause.

Whether the party supports AV or not is irrelevant. However, it is critical for its survival that it stops immediately its campaign against the Liberal Democrats. It smacks of sour grapes; we know that the Labour overtures to Nick Clegg were rejected, but get over it.

Labour has many years in opposition to which to look forward and it will only survive if it abandons its knee-jerk reaction to everything that this progressive, reforming government is proposing. (The latest gaffe is from Jack Straw; describing the reform of parliament as “gerrymandering”. The man is a fool.) Labour must challenge the government when necessary but support it when appropriate.

At the moment Labour has absolutely no credibility.

If A.V.is going to increase both the Tory and Lib/Dem representation can you give me one good reason why any Labour supporter should vote yes in the referendum?

The British public have waited 80 years for a referendum on a fairer voting system, to vote it down for reasons as parochial as "to put one over Nick Clegg" would be the height of idiocy. Nonetheless, I fully expect it to happen - the British electorate are idiots who do not deserve PR.

I'm with you Abby and Jeremiah.

If the Suicide Pact lasts the full five years, then presumably the Lib-Dems would be obliged to tell their supporters to give their second preference to the Tories, and the Tories would return the favour. In that respect, it would help the Tories and harm Labour.

I think the June YouGov poll reflects a 'honeymoon' period, which is unlikely to last that long, given the unnecessarily deep and swift cuts that the Lib-Dems themselves campaigned against before the election.
A disillusioned Lib-Dem or a disillusioned moderate Tory is more likely to give Labour their first preference, which can only be good for Labour.

By the time an election is held under AV (if it ever happens) the whole political landscape could have changed yet again. The political elite may be overflowing with joy at the current coalition but the voters may feel otherwise.

Many Lib Dems will not be Lib Dems in any future election as they have been led to believe they were voting to keep the Tories out in many constituencies. The opposite was in fact the case so are we so sure that their vote will hold up anyway? Labour are best staying out of it all, voting against it as they will take back any voted they took from Labour. Tories will lose votes when they tip us back into spiralling recession. AV was only supported by the big parties to court the LD partnership. The Tories will actively campaign against it and so will Labour.

I disagree with the statement above but this is all a side issue to what is really at stake...

At the end of the day our current system is an illusion of democracy - usually well over 50% of the votes are thrown away and don't count so statistically the majority of the population wasted their time walking to the voting station - this is terrible. at least AV will set up a system in which the majority of the population will have a say in who runs the country as each MP would need 50% of popular support (unlike the 35-40% which is usual). All of the crap spoken in the world cannot take this fact from AV. What gets me with some of the statements above is the total single mindedness - 'AV will be bad for this or that'. Well do you want to live in a democracy or don't you. Surely if the majority of the population want something they should get it shouldn't they. I would hold this to be true even if they I didn't want it because it would be fair - if you are saying you will deprive the majority in order to push your own ideals then you are saying that you think other peoples options shouldn't count. If you vote against AV under this premise then you will be voting against democracy to protect your own personal ideals - if anyone does this next year then shame on you. I don't agree with a lot of peoples opinions but I go hold that we should all have an equal say. I certainly wouldn't want to gag them or deliberately stop them having a vote which seems to be what a couple of posts above are saying. AV is for everyone - you and me. It is against corruption and self serving politics which discount the desires of the majority. If you are planning to vote no please consider seriously the view I have just given and ask if you were on the receiving end (which some of you will be) would you want your vote to be counted or not. Also go to the electoral reform society website and read some informed knowledge on the matter. It would take you 5 minutes and will give you more facts to help you decidewhy AC is correct. If you are planning to vote yes please please please keep telling people the truth in order to give them a chance to change things in a way which benefits them/us all - well everyone apart from corrupt MPs and self serving millionaires but they can go and $%^& for keeping the power with them for so long at the expense of the rest of us.

"Labour have no credibility?!" he states. Who does Green think he is kidding? I think they have a darn sight more than this dreadful coalition. People like me were conned into voting for them at he last electionunder the mistaken belief that they were a centre left party. No wonder Lindem support in polls is down to 15%. After a few years of this coalition and at next election I doubt they will be more than 10%. I shall never vote for them again.

It strikes me that electoral reform should extend to coalitions and what rules should be applied to them in any forthcoming election. A coalition, such as this, should have to stand for election as a coalition rather than Tory or Liberal; they are after all the same thing.

If the coalition parties want to stand against each other, they should make it clear before an election. They are either united or divided, the public have a right to know how they intend to stand. It also strikes me that any future coalition should have an absolute maximum of 2 years before they have to go back to the public; they can then vote on what they think of them.

It is not possible to predict the outcome of the vote on AV. Ed Balls on the Daily Politics programme admitted that his sudden conversion to a position of support for AV was simply a pre-election stance and that he would now vote against it. This suggests that many in the Labour Party will be in the “no” lobby.

The Labour Party should realise that proportional voting is not the big issue with most Liberal Democrat voters. Many of their more important concerns are addressed in the coalition manifesto. A recent ICM poll has shown that there is a greater than 80% support in the country for the new government’s fiscal plans. Many of these people will be Liberal Democrats.

The amazing speed with which this government has put together a progressive, reforming programme is providing cement for the coalition. An increasingly likely outcome following the next five years, in which the government deals successfully with the appalling mess left by Labour, is another Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition, whether or not proportional voting is adopted.

The current testosterone-fuelled attacks on Liberal Democrats by Labour will only accelerate its decline.

Spot on, Abby and Jeremiah! I'm soooo looking forward to the Lib Dems losing the AV referendum and realising they sold their souls for nothing - and then getting obliterated at the next election. They fell right into the Tory trap. It'll be sweet!

AV would damage Labour and help the Tories and Lib Dems.

The Tories are well, The Tories. I hate them but they are what they are.

The Liberals are the whores of British politics. With an STV system the Liberals would be in power permanently. If the Tories were losers they would side with Labour and vice versa.

AV can only be seen as the thin edge of the wedge and must be stopped. I want to see a Labour majority one day without having to cut a deal with those slimy supporters of the golden bird.