Skip to main content

Proceeding contribution from Lord Stephen (Liberal Democrat) in the House of Lords on Thursday, 26 January 2012. It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL) and Debate on bill on Scotland Bill.


Scotland Bill

Not having been invited to the birthday party, can I, perhaps unfairly, point out that the voting system was to be proportional, which was agreed through the constitutional convention? The Liberal Democrats, as always, proposed a fair and appropriate system—the single transferrable vote in multimember constituencies. My clear recollection is that the Labour Party, in conceding a proportional system of election, was prepared to agree to anything except the system that was being proposed by the Liberal Democrats. Therefore, it was the Labour Party that devised the system that we now have in the Scottish Parliament. I would welcome it if the noble Lord, Lord Foulkes, and other members of the Labour Party were now suggesting a fairer system of proportional representation. Perhaps the noble Lord will give his backing to the single transferrable vote.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
734 c1260 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Devolved matters Constituencies Administration Age Devolution Elections Legislative competence Legislation Electoral systems Fixed-term parliaments Dual mandate Ministerial powers Powers Members Referendums Ministers Parliamentary session Scotland Voting rights Scottish Parliament Supreme Court Scottish National Party Independent members Reserved matters Legislative consent motions Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament
Legislation
Scotland Bill 2010-12
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk