Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

Lord Adonis Excerpts

Monday 6th December 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Falconer of Thoroton]

I am talking about the Liberal Democrats.

[Lord Adonis]

That is absolutely not the case. There was no proposition from the Labour Party. It was always made clear that any change to the electoral system would require a referendum for the obvious reason that this is a fundamental change to the constitution of the country.

[Lord Falconer of Thoroton]

I am grateful to my noble friend Lord Adonis. The noble Lord, Lord Rennard, was not in a position to deny the assertion that they were seeking AV without a referendum. So the Liberal Democrats trust the electorate but only on the basis that they give them the answer that they want.