Electoral reform to be drowned out by whispers?

Stuart Weir (Cambridge, Democratic Audit): With an electoral system that diminishes, inhibits and fractures their election results and the traditional two-party mindset of the political class (politicians and journalists alike) being reinforced by the close rivalry between Brown and Cameron, it is easy to understand how readily their tormentors patronise the Liberal Democrats; less easy to understand why their leaders so often down play electoral reform. It is therefore interesting that Chris Huhne has chosen to make a distinct political identity for himself by emphasising electoral reform along with social justice as his themes in the contest with Nick Clegg for the Lib Dem leadership. By contrast, Clegg emerges as a regular good guy, and handsome to boot, and by implication a young and vigorous replacement for their "aged" predecessor. Clegg's image is further enhanced by whispers that Huhne's challenge to Campbell in their contest for the leadership was contaminated by yet more whispers. (Has there ever been a political contest sans whispers?) Then the Sunday press took whispering into a new dimension, as I wrote yesterday. Who is whispering, who is playing tricks here, and why?