Labour Yes to AV Spokespeople Announced
Fourteen leading Labour lights have been announced as spokespeople for the campaign for a Yes vote in May’s referendum on the alternative vote.
The list includes big hitters and rising stars including Neil Kinnock, Douglas Alexander, Gloria De Piero and David Lammy.
Each will take a leading role in the Labour Yes campaign in debates and in the media.
Ben Bradshaw MP, Chief Spokesperson and MP for Exeter
Tessa Jowell MP, Shadow Minister for the Olympics
Douglas Alexander MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary
John Denham MP, Shadow Business Secretary
Sadiq Khan MP, Shadow Justice Secretary
Gloria De Piero MP, Shadow Culture Minister
Rushanara Ali MP, Shadow Minister for International Development
Jonathan Reynolds MP, Labour Assistant Whip
Alan Johnson MP, former Shadow Chancellor
Alison McGovern MP, PPS to Rt Hon Gordon Brown
Liz Kendall MP, Shadow Health Minister
David Lammy MP, Shadow Higher Education Minister
Baroness Oona King
Lord Neil Kinnock
Ben Bradshaw MP, Chief Spokesperson for the Labour Yes campaign said:
“After the expenses crisis we need to rebuild trust in politics. The Conservatives have taken the side of politicians. We’re taking the side of voters.
“We can’t return to business as usual at Westminster. A Yes vote in May is our one chance to change politics – for good.”
Neil Kinnock said:
“Britain needs to change to a fairer voting system that properly reflects voter’s views. AV provides such a system. That’s why I’m voting yes.”
Jonathan Reynolds MP, Labour Assistant Whip said:
“Everywhere I go people tell me our political system is not working. I’m in politics and I agree with them. I want a political system which is more open, more inclusive and more engaging. AV is a step in the right direction towards this.
Alison McGovern MP, PPS to Rt Hon Gordon Brown, said
“People have preferences. If someone doesn’t want to make me or my party their first choice, I would like to be able to ask them for their second preference too. It would improve our politics, and allow people to express their real choice. It’s as easy as I, 2, 3.”
Tessa Jowell MP, Shadow Minister for the Olympics, said:
“The simplest reason to support AV is that politics will be improved if representatives are elected by at least half of the people that go out and vote.”
Douglas Alexander MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary, said:
“This is a small but important change that will make politicians more accountable to the people who elect them.”
John Denham MP, Shadow Business Secretary, said:
“The voting system belongs to the people not to politicians. People have a basic right to be able to vote for the party of their choice without feeling their vote will be wasted. AV gives them that right while ensuring that elected MPs enjoy support from over half their constituents.
Gloria De Piero MP, Shadow Culture Minister, said:
“I’m voting Yes in May. Too many people think politics is irrelevant to them. AV is a fairer system because every vote counts and it means MPs will have to reach out to the majority of voters.”
David Lammy MP, Shadow Higher Education Minister, said:
“AV is fairer and more democratic – everybody’s vote counts. That’s why the Tories don’t like it. As a bonus, it also keeps out racist parties like the BNP, which will never get enough support to be elected. That’s why I’m backing it, and I hope you will too.”
Baroness Oona King, said:
“People who like politics the way it is want you to think electoral reform is very complicated. In fact it’s very simple: either you give people more power, or you don’t. Either you make MPs more accountable, or you don’t. Either you make British politics fairer, or you don’t. I’m voting Yes in May because I want cleaner politics, I hope you do too.”
Alan Johnson MP said:
It is ludicrous that representative positions as diverse as the Leadership of the Conservative & Labour Parties and the General Synod of the Church of England are elected through AV to ensure that the winner has more than 50% of the vote but that MPs can still be elected by a minority. A change would be good for Parliament and good for democracy.
Liz Kendall MP said:
I’m backing AV because it will give voters more choice and make more voters’ choices count. It will encourage politicians to reach out to more of our constituents, to try and get their second preferences, if not their first.
