Watford MP backs voting referendum (From Watford Observer)

Watford MP backs voting referendum

3:15pm Wednesday 8th September 2010 in

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Watford MP Richard Harrington has backed the voting reform bill passing through Parliament, but said he was unsure whether he would support the alternative vote system.

Controversial plans for a referendum on whether to change the voting system used to elect MPs to Westminster should be changed was passed with a majority of 59 votes on Monday.

Holding a referendum was a key agreement in the Coalition agreement between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, with the vote set to be held alongside local elections next spring.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, believes replacing the current "first past the post" system with the alternative vote will help restore faith in the electoral process.

Mr Harrington, who was elected to Parliament in May, said: “We are just at the beginning of the debate over voting reform.

“I voted with the Government - for the voting reform bill to pass - as this was a fundamental part of the coalition agreement that I pledged to support.

“Rather than make a knee-jerk decision now on whether to support or oppose changes to our voting system, I want to really study the arguments on both sides of the debate before taking a stance on this issue.”