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Proceeding contribution from Lord Rooker (Labour Independent) in the House of Lords on Monday, 6 December 2010. It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL) and Debate on bill on Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill.


Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

I regret to say that I have not brought my New Zealand file with me. I could not get away from the Chamber and my file is across the road, so I do not know. It was a hot issue and I have copies of the information that at the time was distributed to people by the equivalent of the Electoral Commission to explain the systems and what was going on, together with copies of the ballot papers. I am not going to spend this debate deploying the whys and wherefores of the system. The principle is clear: first, we should ask the people, ““Do you want to change the system?””. I can make the case for that but the change, when it occurs, has to be cemented, and that is my anxiety about what is being proposed. This is not intended to be a cemented change, because it is clear that, assuming it is carried, the Liberal Democrats will come back later for a move to PR. Were I in favour of PR, I would go straight to PR, but that is not the point that I am making here.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
723 c98-9 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Alternative vote Ballots Administration Elections Local government Referendums Proportional representation Reform
Legislation
Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill 2010-12
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk