Elections: AV Referendum and Scottish Parliament

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Excerpts

Tuesday 20th July 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Wallace of Tankerness]

My Lords, I am sure that my noble friend meant 2015—1915 is beyond my abilities. He makes a very important point. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has already written to the First Minister, the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, the other political leaders in Scotland, the Electoral Commission and election administrators to say that he is prepared to discuss this issue with them. I can assure my noble friend and the House that my right honourable friend will listen constructively to what they have to say on the coincidence of elections, as a result of fixed-term Parliaments, in 2015 and every 20 years thereafter.

[Lord Hunt of Kings Heath]

My Lords, in addition to the issue of a number of votes taking place on the same day next May, including potentially three votes in Wales, is there not also the issue of a differential turnout? Parts of this country, particularly London, will not have any vote at all except the potential referendum vote. There will be a differential turnout. Will that not call into question the very fairness of a referendum?

[Lord Wallace of Tankerness]

No, I do not think that it should. Indeed, I make no secret of the fact that there is a combination of polls in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and many parts of England where there are local elections. One of the advantages will be increased turnouts for both the respective elections and the referendum. It will be up to the respective yes or no campaigns in places where there are no other elections to try to ensure that there is a good turnout for a referendum on a very important issue facing the country—how its elected House should be elected. It is an issue on which the noble Lord’s party brought forward legislation when it was in government. I look forward to receiving its support when we debate these matters when the Bill comes to this House.