On May 5th the country will be asked in a referendum whether they want to change the voting system in this country from the tried and tested, current 'First past the post' system, to the 'AV system', used by only three countries in the world.
The only reason that this referendum is happening is because it was the bottom-line in the coalition agreement, of all the things Nick Clegg could have asked for - this was the one he chose: a referendum on a system he himself described as "a miserable little compromise". George Eustice has been campaigning hard to ensure a No vote for three main reasons:
1) The essential pillar of our democratic system is 'one person, one vote'. AV is a fundamentally unfair system that erodes this principle by couting some votes more than others. Why should supporters of extremist parties be able to vote 5 or 6 times, when people who vote for mainstream parties only get their vote counted once.
2) The AV system would result in more political stich-ups. Statistically the AV system would result in more coalitions, and therefore more political back-room deals and horse trading. i.e. more manifesto pledges dropped.
3) The system is costly. This referendum alone will cost £80 million. It would cost a lot more than this to change the system. This money could be better spent.
VOTE NO TO AV ON MAY 5TH.
George is pictured with LabourNO2AV supporter and former MP, Candy Atherton, along with other No2AV supporters.
Click on the following links to read how the Electoral Reform Scoiety, who are the principle backers of the Yes to AV camp, stand to benefit millions from a change to AV...