Commenting on Gordon Brown’s announcement today that Labour’s election manifesto will pledge to hold a referendum on whether to change the system for electing the House of Commons to the Alternative Vote early in the next Parliament, Director of Unlock Democracy Peter Facey said:

“Gordon Brown has managed the unique achievement of coming up with a programme of electoral reform that will satisfy no-one.

“The Alternative Vote system, whilst offering the voter greater choice, is not proportional and a mere baby step in the face of the widening chasm between voter and politician. Parliament will remain as unrepresentative – and subsequently unresponsive – as ever. There is no demand amongst the wider public for this change and it is hard to see how a referendum on the subject will actually motivate people to come out and vote.

“Brown can still make a difference this side of a general election by legislating for a Citizens’ Convention to decide which the electoral system should be put to the public in a referendum, if at all. The choices should not be restricted by the very politicians who have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.

“The Conservatives remain wedded to the broken first-past-the-post system. If Brown can show courage over the next few months and set out a clear dividing line between him and Cameron when it comes to trusting the people, he could expect to reap an electoral dividend. Now is not a time for yet more dithering and half-measures.”