MPs set to vote on Gordon Brown's alternative vote referendum
MPs set to vote on electoral reform
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Tuesday, 09, Feb 2010 10:46
By Richard James.
MPs are set to vote on Gordon Brown's plans to hold a referendum on Britain's voting system later.
The prime minister has said he would back a national referendum after this year's general election and has called for the plans to be added to the constitutional reform and governance bill.
Reports this morning though suggest Mr Brown may face an uphill struggle to get the plans passed, with somewhere between 20 and 40 Labour MPs thought to be considering voting against the referendum.
The PM threw his weight behind the alternative vote system last week in a speech aimed to launch his brand of "new politics".
Under the AV system, voters rank candidates in order of preference, with whoever gets over 50 per cent of the votes in the first round being elected. If this does not occur though, the votes for the least supported candidate are redistributed until a winner is found.
Supporters of the system claim it has the benefit of ensuring everyone voted into parliament holds majority support in the constituency.
Mr Brown claims the system increases links between MPs and their constituents, claiming all members of parliament need to concentrate on serving public.
Opposition parties have criticised the plans though, with some Labour members also against the idea.
The prime minister has pledged to hold a referendum on changing the voting system before the end of October 2011 if he wins the coming general election.