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Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats:Covering the constituencies of Twickenham and Richmond Park |
Ashdown: The AV vote matters – the no campaign's scaremongering shows it
April 17, 2011 12:38 PM
• [Apr 16] Paddy Ashdown writes: THERE is not a politician in the country who won't tell you they want to improve politics. But as the conduct of the current referendum on adopting the alternative vote shows, judge them by their actions, not their words. I will be voting yes because I believe that changing to AV will substantially improve our democracy. I disagree with those advocating sticking to the current first-past-the-post system, but respect their right to their point of view. What I am perplexed and deeply disturbed by is that those running the no campaign haven't once put forward a positive case for the current system and instead have spent their time lying about AV.
. . At the start of this campaign I believed a yes vote would mean we had the chance to make a closer connection between politicians and people and begin a journey of renewal for our sadly tarnished politics. I still believe that. But having seen the way those who want us to vote no on 5 May are making their argument, I realise that this referendum is about much more than just a voting system.
It is about giving politics in Britain something better for the future than we have seen in the recent past - and that we now see so graphically in the way the no campaign is making its case.
They have given us a perfect example of why things have to change. Of how our politics will remain if this vote is lost. Of why we need a new voting system, which puts more power into the hands of the voters and takes it away from this old style of old machine politics, which demeans us and our politics alike.
• Ashdown: The AV vote matters - the no campaign's scaremongering shows it [Guardian Apr 16]
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