Reviewing politics
and culture since 1913

There’s nothing “non-partisan” about No to AV

No to AV should come clean: it’s a Conservative campaign – just admit it!

By Duncan Robinson

The Conservatives have launched the latest video in their campaign against AV.

The video is slick, and its message is simple: those who come first won’t always win under AV. Like most of the No to AV campaign’s messages, it’s crude but effective. It is also the same coherent, if slightly misleading line that the No to AV campaign uses in its recent video.

Subscribe to the New Statesman for £1 a week

This is not surprising. There are, after all, extremely close links between the Conservative Party and the No to AV campaign.

CCHQ recently very generously offered to let the No campaigners use the party’s phone bank in Millbank to canvass support. The No to AV campaign is paid for by Conservative backers and staffed by the party’s supporters. Indeed, I hear that one former Labour adviser left the No campaign after he grew tired of taking orders from Tories.

There is nothing wrong with this, but No to AV should come clean. Despite its claims, it’s not a “non-partisan” campaign, it’s a Conservative campaign. John Reid, John Prescott and all other prominent Labour supporters of the No campaign are simply the useful idiots of the Conservative Party.

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU

A No on AV is a Yes to the Tories.

Content from our partners
What does a new war book look like for the UK?
Breathless Britain
A revolution in mental health science

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments