Labour division deepens over electoral reform
Fresh evidence of the deep division within the Labour party over the forthcoming electoral reform referendum has been unveiled by the ‘no’ campaign.
Over 100 opposition MPs will vote against the Liberal Democrat-backed proposal to changing the voting system from first-past-the-post to alternative vote in a referendum on May 5th.
That represents a sizeable minority of the 257-strong parliamentary party and will undermine leader Ed Miliband’s vocal support for the shift.
Former Labour MP Joan Ryan, deputy campaign director of No2AV, said the issue was “more important than party politics” and insisted that Labour’s MPs, councillors and activists were free to make up their own minds.
“We are pleased to see so many MPs from right across the party united in voting no and we are confident that many Labour supporters will be joining them,” she said.
A list published on the No2AV’s website included former New Labour ministers Hazel Blears, David Blunkett and Margaret Hodge.
Several members of Mr Miliband’s shadow Cabinet also appear, including shadow energy and climate change secretary Meg Hillier, shadow health secretary John Healey and shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh.
The Labour Yes Campaign pointed out that its backers included eight shadow Cabinet ministers, however.
In a statement it accused opponents of hypocrisy, arguing: “It is a shame that some Labour MPs who so recently stood on a manifesto supporting a referendum on the alternative vote have chosen short-term tactical gain above the long term interests of the voters and the Labour party.”
