Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour). It was answered on Wednesday, 11 May 2011.

Electoral System: Alternative Vote Referendum

Question: My Lords, this is a serious matter. The Minister, like me, is a football supporter. How would he feel if the manager of the other team was also appointed as the referee—because that is effectively what happened? Will he ensure that neither the Electoral Reform Society nor any of its subsidiaries are involved in monitoring such elections in future?

Answer: It is a serious matter, and the systems for monitoring whether those elections have gone through properly are in place. As I said in my reply, we will be getting a full report and I have every confidence that the election will have been carried out with the utmost integrity. One interesting thing about the recent elections is the lack of criticisms about conduct compared with the many criticisms that came about during the general election. Therefore, we are making progress and I really do not think that the issue that the noble Lord, Lord McAvoy, has raised is sustainable.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 727 c893
Session: 2010-12
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Alternative vote Absent voting General elections Glasgow Referendums Electoral Reform Society Electoral Reform Services
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk