MP: ‘I want to know why I’m on this list. I’ve never spoken to NO2AV’

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

A Labour MP who appeared on a list of “NO2AV” supporters earlier this week has told his local paper that he is “undecided” on the issue. The Huddersfield Daily Examiner reports that Barry Sheerman told them:

“I want to know why I’m on this list. I’ve never spoken to NO2AV…they might have got some young intern to ring round MPs, but that’s not what I call research.”

Sheerman later claified that the information had come from an informal conversation with NO2AV organiser Jane Kennedy. A spokesperson from NO2AV said:

“I think his intention was to spell out his position in the New Year.”

“He is against the alternative vote, I don’t think he quite understood that we would release the list now.”

“He is against AV, but he doesn’t want to talk about it publicly. That was an error on our part, it was a breakdown in communication.”