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Proceeding contribution from Lord Rooker (Labour Independent) in the House of Lords on Thursday, 28 January 2010. It occurred during Debate on Constitutional Reform.


Constitutional Reform

My Lords, the situation will be the same: huge party majorities in the Commons based on a minority of votes. When the going gets tough and the leaders look round, there will be no voters behind them. The fact is that they were never there in the first place because they got in on a minority vote. It is time for a change in our approach. To its credit, this Government, with all the changes they have made, have not brought the first past the post system in anywhere. No one in eastern Europe bought it; the South Africans did not buy it; Wales, Scotland and the London Assembly did not buy it. If the Tories wake up soon, they might see that first past the post is not a winner. I want the voter to be the winner. I also want my vote back when this place is reformed. I want the voter to be the winner and that is why I support a move to proportional representation.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
716 c1586 
Session
2009-10
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Central government Conduct Devolution British constitution Finance Elections House of Lords House of Commons Expenditure Electoral systems Members Political parties Parliamentary procedure Politics and government Parliament Reform
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk