Straw attacks coalition “trick”

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

Jack Straw has attacked the coalition over electoral reform, and said that the proposals were a “trick”, intended to gerrymander constituency boundaries. Speaking to Radio 4, Straw said:

“If this bill, which is in two parts, just had a single part in favour of the Alternative Vote referendum, of course we’d vote in favour.”

“We’re not arguing about the equalisation of seats. We are arguing about the unnecessary reduction in the size of the House of Commons and we’re in particular arguing about the way in which they are proposing to go about redrawing the boudaries.”

Straw also attacked the proposal as “very, very partisan” and said that it was “effectively for gerrymandering boundaries.”

It appears that, at least for the time being, Labour is against AV. If the legislation passes through parliament though, and depending on who the enxt leader is, it’s unclear what position the party will take in the long term.