Peter Facey (London, Unlock Democracy): We have just had the leak of the Government's review of the new electoral systems and are expecting the full report in December. Stuart Weir outlined the self serving nature of this report on Monday.It is worth remembering how this review came about. It is the result of a continued watering down of Labour manifesto promises on electoral reform. In 1997 Labour stated they would establish an Independent Commission to examine the options for electoral reform, before putting the final decision to a referendum, saying: "We are committed to a referendum on the voting system for the House of Commons."
In 2001 this became: "We will review the experience of the new systems and the Jenkins report to assess whether changes might be made to the electoral system for the House of Commons. A referendum remains the right way to agree any change for Westminster."
And in 2005: "Labour remains committed to reviewing the experience of the new electoral systems - introduced for the devolved administrations, the European Parliament and the London Assembly. A referendum remains the right way to agree any change for Westminster."
But we can now look over the water to Canadian province of Ontario to see what might have been if Labour had kept its promise and delivered a referendum. They have gone through a similar process - manifesto pledge, a citizen's assembly and now a referendum - the big difference being they have delivered.
On the 10th of October Ontarians will go to the polls in their General Election and at the same time they will have a referendum on changing their electoral system. Their equivalent of the Electoral Commission has launched a public information campaign and the yes campaign has just launched its campaign. Regardless of the relative merits of the electoral system, Ontarians - not a cabal of government ministers and civil servants - will have the final say in the form of a referendum. By contrast, despite the promises of 10 years ago, the UK public will only be allowed a say in the system if our political 'masters' decide we should vote yes. We have reached a point where this spoonfeeding approach is no longer sustainable, which is why a process like a UK Citizens' Convention is so badly needed.
