A Fairer voting system?

7.00.16pm GMT Sun 5th Mar 2006

The publication of the Power Report has been well covered by the national papers but is of equal importance at a local level.

The report, set up by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, investigated why people were taking less and less interest in politics, as evidenced by poor turnouts at elections, local ones especially. The report makes 30 specific recommendations which include many of the ideas that the Liberal Democrats have been championing for years. Included in the proposals are:

• Scrapping 'First Past the Post' and putting in a more responsive electoral system.

• The suggested replacement is Single Transferable Vote, this has been the method proposed and used by the LibDems for years.

• Local government to have enhanced powers to raise taxes and administer its own finances.

• Automatic voter registration, you won't have to apply to go on the register.

• Unambiguous decentralisation of powers from central to local government

Local Liberal Democrats welcomed the report, which was produced by a very independent body of people. The Chair (Baroness Helena Kennedy QC) is a Labour Peer and her deputy (Ferdinand Mount) was Head of Mrs Thatcher's Policy Unit in the '80's. LibDem Chairman, Tony Skottowe, remarked "With around 24% of the vote locally and just 4% of the seats on the Council we think the electorate are being cheated. Size really does matter in this instance! If people want the sort of changes suggested they will need to push hard for them; write to your councillors, your MP, your MEP and complain to the government. Best of all vote Liberal Democrat as the surest way to make it all happen."

For further information and comment call Tony Skottowe on 01707 324 828.