AV referendum is coming as ministers agree to legislate

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

The BBC’s Nick Robinson reports the news that ministers have agreed to hold a Commons vote to legislate for a referendum on the Alternative Vote, probably to be held in the autumn of 2011.

The amdendment to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill currently going through Parliament would compel the next Parliament, no matter who is in Government, to hold the referendum on the voting system.

The cabinet will be asked to approve the plan tomorrow, allowing Gordon Brown to unveil the idea in a speech he is delivering on political reform at lunchtime.

However, Nick Robinson also remarks that even if the Commons votes for a referendum on AV next week, the measure is unlikely to become law as there is not sufficient time between now and the election for it to pass through all its Parliamentary stages.

Reformers will work hard to make sure the Bill is pushed through, and Gordon Brown will not want to see a rare act of boldness scuppered by indecision or bureaucracy.

Where there’s a will…