Launch letter in today’s Guardian
Next year we have the opportunity to vote for a fairer voting system – one in which everyone’s vote counts and every MP is required to get the backing of a majority of voters. It means that every Labour party member and supporter, in every seat in the country, can cast their vote for Labour and then mark any other preferences, knowing their vote won’t be wasted.
First past the post isn’t working. When just a few thousand people determine every election result in a few swing seats, the interests of the Labour party and the people we represent go unheard. The alternative vote means the majority get their voices heard; it will shut the door on extremist parties like the BNP.
When people switch off from politics it damages Labour, not the Tories. That’s why the Tories don’t want fairer votes. They don’t want change; they say no! Labour is the party of fairness and change. Labour says yes. It’s time for change.
Ben Bradshaw
Alan Johnson
Sadiq Khan
Douglas Alexander
John Denham
Peter Hain
Tessa Jowell
Hilary Benn
Liam Byrne
Jack Straw
Tom Watson
Jon Cruddas
Chris Bryant
David Lammy
Liz Kendall
Chuka Umunna
Anas Sarwar
Alison McGovern
Gloria de Piero
Stephen Timms
Helen Goodman
John McDonnell
Stephen Twigg
Susan Elan Jones
Richard Burden
Frank Field
Hugh Bayley
Ann Coffey
Willie Bain
Paul Blomfield
Joan Ruddock
Heidi Alexander
Stephen Pound
Kevin Brennan
Fiona Mactaggart
Malcolm Wicks
Fabian Hamilton
Alan Whitehead
Nick Raynsford
Karen Buck
Jim Dowd
Sir Peter Soulsby
Graham Allen
Paul Flynn
Virendra Sharma
Andy Love
Andy Slaughter
Alex Cunnigham
Teresa Pearce
Jonathan Reynolds
Michael Meacher
(Lord) Prof. Raymond Plant
(Lord) Andrew Adonis
(Lord) Roy Hattersley
(Baroness) Oona King
(Lord) Peter Mandelson
(Lord) David Lipsey
(Lord) Jeremy Beecham
(Baroness) Joyce Gould
(Baroness) Joyce Quin
(Lord) Neil Kinnock
(Baroness) Glenys Kinnock
(Baroness) Ruth Lister
Mary Honeyball MEP
Richard Howitt MEP
Claude Moraes MEP
Linda McAvan MEP
Murad Qureshi AM
Tony Benn
Ken Livingstone
James Purnell
Nick Pearce (Director, ippr - in a personal capacity)
Phil Collins
Gavin Kelly
Luke Akehurst (NEC)
Tony Robinson
Chris Mullin
David Gardner
John Rentoul
Cllr Patrick Diamond
Kevin Maguire (Daily Mirror)
Sam Tarry (Chair, Young Labour)
Christine Quigley (Chair, London Young Labour [personal capacity)
Neal Lawson (Chair, Compass)
Gavin Hayes (Gen Sec, Compass)
Robert Philpot (Director, Progress)
Richard Angell (Deputy Director, Progress)
Sunder Katwala (General Secretary, Fabian Society in a personal capacity)
Will Straw (Editor, Left Foot Forward)
Mary Southcott (Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform).
Sunny Hundal (Liberal Conspiracy)
Cllr Wes Streeting, Former NUS President
You got Liam Byrne? Wow. Now I am surprised!
Good work guys.
The failure of the AV referendum will hasten the demise of the coalition. Hence I will be voting NO.
“The failure of the AV referendum will hasten the demise of the coalition. Hence I will be voting NO”
- that’s arguable in its own right (the alternative analysis is that if AV falls, the Libs have nowhere else to go than stick with the Tories for 5 years), but it’s also short term. Let’s focus on the next and future elections: AV will help Labour consolidate the progressive majority in this country, and keep the Tories out for good. That’s got to be a winner!