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Proceeding contribution from Lord Gilbert (Labour) in the House of Lords on Wednesday, 15 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

The noble Lord, Lord McNally, is probably too young to remember the referendum of 1975, which was shamelessly rigged by the Government of the day—a Government of whom I was a member. The no voters were allowed to have a leaflet published and distributed at public expense, as were the yes voters. But the Government then brought out a third leaflet, which said yes; it was rather bigger, as I recall, than either of the other two leaflets. The referendum was therefore totally rigged. The rigging was done not by rich millionaires, as the noble Lord, Lord Lamont, seems to fear, but by the Government of the day. Can we have an assurance that there will be no repetition of that behaviour?

Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
723 c649 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Constituencies Alternative vote Broadcasting Costs Finance Expenditure Electoral Commission General elections Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Assembly National Assembly for Wales Political parties Newspaper press Referendums Loans Media Scotland Voting behaviour Voting methods Wales Scottish Parliament
Legislation
Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill 2010-12
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk