Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

Lord Myners Excerpts

Wednesday 16th February 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Phillips of Sudbury]

Absolutely. I am perfectly willing to accept the decision of the British people, whatever that is and whatever the turnout is. I really do not understand how you can, if you like, push the partisanship completely out of account by saying that if there is not a 40 per cent turnout, we will decide. At this forthcoming referendum, the majority of the Conservative Party will be against AV; and although it was in its referendum, I sense that the Labour Party will be against it. Partisanship will rule.

[Lord Myners]

The noble Lord spoke about the referendum of the Labour Party, but I think he meant the manifesto. Perhaps I may correct him; he described AV as being a major plank of the Liberal Democrat manifesto. In fact it was not. AV was described by the leader of the noble Lord’s party as a “miserable little compromise”.

[Lord Phillips of Sudbury]

My honourable friend Mr Clegg may call it what he likes.