Katie Ghose has been appointed the new Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society. Katie Ghose has been director of the British Institute of Human Rights for 5 years. An experienced campaigner and barrister, she has previously held positions at Age Concern England (now Age UK) and Citizens Advice.

The Electoral Reform Society has released its initial findings on the latest Australian Federal Election. Australia’s House of Representatives is elected by the Alternative Vote (AV) system, which will be offered to the British public in a referendum next May.

The Electoral Reform Society has criticised 40 Conservative MPs who have signed up to an Early Day Motion (EDM) proposing changing the date of the forthcoming referendum on the Alternative Vote.

The Electoral Reform Society has welcomed the publication of a clear Yes/No question for the proposed Alternative Vote (AV) referendum. But as the bill heads to parliament the Society has urged members not to play ‘mischief makers’, and to leave the future of the electoral system in the hands of voters.

The Electoral Reform Society has welcomed news that the promised referendum on the Alternative Vote (AV) will be announced next week. 

Electoral Reform Society Wales will conduct a seminar and launch of a publication on the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition’s proposals to reduce the number of Westminster constituencies and to make them of equal population size, and its effect on the National Assembly of Wales.

The Electoral Reform Society Scotland is highlighting the likely consequences of the government’s pledge to ‘reduce and equalise’ constituencies in the House of Commons.

The Electoral Reform Society Scotland is highlighting the likely consequences of the government’s pledge to ‘reduce and equalise’ constituencies in the House of Commons.

The Electoral Reform Society has responded to the noticeable lack of detail on the proposed referendum in today’s Queen’s Speech.

The Electoral Reform Society has commented on the Electoral Commission’s interim report on polling day problems.

The Electoral Reform Society has called on the government to clarify its proposals on voting reform following today’s speech by Deputy PM Nick Clegg - starting with a clear indication on the timing of any future referendum on the Alternative Vote.

The Electoral Reform Society has commented on news that the government is preparing to appoint 100 new life peers to the Lords.
 

A message below from MVC Director Malcolm Clark - sent to MVC supporters on Friday 6 November:

"I am, because you are, because we are". This African phrase means a lot personally, but also sums up why this is a very hard email for me to write. You - MVC's supporters and activists - are the bedrock of this organisation and the people I have had the most connection with. So it is with some sadness I am writing to inform you that I am imminently stepping down as Director of Make Votes Count, and moving on to a different challenge elsewhere.

It was a tough decision. While no time is good to leave, this seemed like a sensible point to do it. The middle-to-end of November, after the Queen's Speech, was always going to be the time to take stock of where we are: pushing home the gains we have made and looking ahead to our strategy and campaign options for the period running up to, and including, the General Election.

Make Votes Count - and campaigning for a more representative parliament and a better way of doing politics - has been my passion and my enjoyment for the past four and a half years of my life. More if you include volunteering at MVC during 2004-5 and being involved as an activist since 2000!

In that time, we have seen a resurgence of interest among voters, party members, journalists and pressure groups looking at getting rid of First-Past-the-Post as a way of shaking up politics. We have had the first local councillors elected under STV in Britain; and the third set of elections to PR elected bodies in Scotland, Wales, London and Europe. We have had high profile figures and organisations renouncing their former opposition to reform and backing us. We have attracted a new 'army' of parliamentary candidates and the coming generation of political activists. We have built up, most recently through the Vote for a Change campaign, a swathe of civil society and thousands of individuals supporting our efforts. We have also dealt with a number of false dawns for the campaign, and the setbacks as the vested interests of the some politicians and parties reassert themselves over voters' desire for change. The power balance is shifting now though.

One of the things I am proudest about is having harnessed our resources and expertise to enable people to make the most of their political voice: their vote, and their ability to campaign for change in their local communities. Whether through voter education initiatives 'Euro Votes Count' and 'Londoners' Votes Count'; through talks and running practical training workshops; through the campaign actions we have carried out; or simply through the information you have disseminated by email, leaflets and in person ... together we have set about creating active and powerful citizens. That can only help us in our goal to create a new, genuinely participative democracy.

Politics to me is about talking to and persuading your friends, neighbours, colleagues and networks. This is why I have attached such importance to developing the electoral reform activist base; providing us all with the basic skills, messages, resources and core activities to promote the campaign. This year we have really taken that aspect forward: with an MVC-ERS activist training day in March, followed by the launch of Activism Hub website and the speaker programme.

You are part of an ever-increasing group of amazing people who are enthused by the campaign and want to be involved. So many times you have encouraged me, surprised me, inspired me. Your standing order donations have been the lifeblood of the organisation and the additional money you give in response to supporter mailings is a vital way of expanding our work. I am truly grateful for all that you have done for the campaign, and hope not only that your efforts will continue but we will be rewarded - sooner rather than later - with a reformed voting system for the Commons.

Thank you also to all the partner organisations who have supported our campaigning work over the past few years. Too many orgs to name all here, but special mention to: Electoral Reform Society, Unlock Democracy (& Charter88), the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform, Conservative Action for Electoral Reform, Christian Socialist Movement, Fawcett Society, Operation Black Vote, PCS union, Compass and the National Union of Students.

A personal thank you to all the interns and volunteers who have helped in the office. Also to Paul Oldham (http://www.the-hug.co.uk), Denise Cox (http://www.coxcostello.co.uk) and Wayne Nugent (http://www.mailingguy.co.uk) for their invaluable behind-the-scenes work in ensuring our database and website, book-keeping and supporter mailings respectively are all taken care of to high standards.

Now, back to the present and future. For the latest campaign news, see www.voteforachange.co.uk - sign up to receive their emails. For a one-stop activism hub of resources and ideas for you to go out and take action, see http://www.makemyvotecount.org.uk/activismhub

There will be a MVC Management Committee meeting at the end of November, which will look how best MVC can contribute towards the electoral reform campaign effort in the run-up to the election and after. If you would like to feed in your own ideas and thoughts, please email them in (to the usual address, malcolm@makevotescount.org.uk)

In the meantime, MVC's fantastic (paid) interns Phil Connor and Jana Tereick will be checking emails and communicating with supporters; alongside their current campaign work with Vote for a Change. The main MVC email address and phone number will remain the same.

As for me, I am going to work for The Equality Trust http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk - running their 'One Society' campaign, aimed at making income inequality a major general election issue. So from fair votes, now to fair pay and a fair society, a different emphasis but to me part of the same whole.

You can keep in contact with me via my personal email address

Finally - whether in continued electoral reform activism or campaigning on other issues you care about - remember: "brick-by-brick, block-by-block, calloused hand by calloused hand, we can change the world".

All the very best,

Malcolm

Here is what was reported on Sky News last week - maybe it'll encourage Brown to move forward the referendum plans to this side of the General Election.

The results of a YouGov opinion poll for Sky News shows that 59% of 1078 people questioned believe that Gordon Brown's suggestion for a referendum on whether Britain should switch to the alternative vote system, from the current first-past-the-post system is a good idea. 22% thought it was a bad idea, with 19% unsure. The question was included in a Sky News survey of over 1000 adults after Gordon Brown's speech to the Labour Party Conference (Survey carried out between 29-30 September). The people surveyed were also asked how they would vote if a referendum was held on whether to stick with a first-past-the-post system or switch to the alternative vote for electing MPs. 43% of people questioned voted in favour of the new system, 26% would rather stick with the current system, 9% wouldn't vote and 21% were unsure

- Full steam ahead as Campaign heads for Tory Conference.
- Pit stop planned in Blear’s Salford Seat

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2668/3963122065_7691336983.jpg

Fresh from leading thousands of protestors at Labour’s Brighton Conference http://www.demotiximages.com/news/gordon-gravy-train the Vote for a Change campaign, which is been leading calls for a referendum on a voting system that let so many of our MPs off the hook, is heading for Manchester.

With Gordon Brown kicking reform into the long grass with an empty promise of a referendum in Labour’s next Manifesto, the campaign is now targeting Tory Conference, and their leader David Cameron who preaches ‘choice’, but not on where it counts – on the big question of how we hire and fire our MPs.

Campaigners are training their sights on the politicians who are unprepared to break a voting system that has left parliament unaccountable and unrepresentative, and are taking their very own Gravy Train to conference, staffed by some very familiar faces from the Tory front bench.

The campaign’s Gravy Train, which was branded “irresponsible” by Labour officials on its London launch leg, is now heading on a national tour.
http://www.hounslowguardian.co.uk/news/4644140.All_aboard_the_gravy_train__Protesters_hit_Ann_Keen_s_office/

Willie Sullivan from the Vote for a Change campaign said:

“From duck islands to second jobs, the Gravy Train is alive and well and on it’s way to Manchester.”

“Westminster’s Gravy Train is fuelled by a political system that leaves hundreds of MPs safe to enjoy jobs for life – all expenses paid. In Cameron’s seat, like hundreds of others, you’d need a time machine to see when voters last managed to shake off an incumbent, even though the majority of people continue to back other parties. It’s a system that keeps voters weak, and politicians strong.

“Now as Tories arrive in Manchester, we’re asking why a party of the future remains so committed to the politics of the past.

We’ve taken our campaign into the seats of MPs who feel voters don’t deserve the final say on the future of their parliament. Cameron has made it clear he isn’t a supporter of reform, but that’s no reason to stand in the way of debate. He can tell us the system works as much as he likes; he just needs to accept that the voters, his employers, might just have an opinion. As all MPs should know politics isn’t about lectures, it’s about debate, and the time for that debate is now

“This is about giving voters a choice, a concept all Conservatives should be familiar with - if they’ve read their own literature. We need to call a halt to the Westminster Gravy Train, and David Cameron can either act in the interest of his fellow passengers or in the interests of voters.

Photo Op
Please contact Malcolm Clark on 07733 322 148 for more details.

The ‘Gravy Train’ crewed by Cameron, Blears and Brown will heading to Manchester and Salford.

Sunday - MANCHESTER
1.15 - 2.45pm
Photo op at the train at Owen St car park, before following route past Piccadilly and Oxford Road train stations, culminating at Friends Meeting House

2.45 - 3.15pm
Outside Friends Meeting House, Mount Street. Photos by arrangement only, as we will otherwise be busy setting up for the meeting.

3.15-4.30pm
Public meeting: Have the Conservatives got what it takes to clean up politics, hosted by Martin Bell. This event will be filmed, and members of the press are invited to attend. For more information or a press release contact willie@voteforachange.co.uk

Sunday 4.30 - 5.30
Photos outside of the Friends Meeting House

Monday – MANCHESTER AND SALFORD
10.00-11.00am
Photocall at Friends Meeting House, Mount Street and Albert Square

12:00 - 12.30pm
Photocall and leafleting in Salford, at Hazel Blears MP's constituency office - Jubilee House, 51 The Crescent, Salford M5 4WX

PHOTOS
Hi res photos of the Brighton leg are available to the press.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/voteforachangeuk/sets/72157622475515102/

- Full steam ahead as Campaign heads for Tory Conference.
- Pit stop planned in Blear’s Salford Seat

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2668/3963122065_7691336983.jpg

Fresh from leading thousands of protestors at Labour’s Brighton Conference http://www.demotiximages.com/news/gordon-gravy-train the Vote for a Change campaign, which is been leading calls for a referendum on a voting system that let so many of our MPs off the hook, is heading for Manchester.

With Gordon Brown kicking reform into the long grass with an empty promise of a referendum in Labour’s next Manifesto, the campaign is now targeting Tory Conference, and their leader David Cameron who preaches ‘choice’, but not on where it counts – on the big question of how we hire and fire our MPs.

Campaigners are training their sights on the politicians who are unprepared to break a voting system that has left parliament unaccountable and unrepresentative, and are taking their very own Gravy Train to conference, staffed by some very familiar faces from the Tory front bench.

The campaign’s Gravy Train, which was branded “irresponsible” by Labour officials on its London launch leg, is now heading on a national tour.
http://www.hounslowguardian.co.uk/news/4644140.All_aboard_the_gravy_train__Protesters_hit_Ann_Keen_s_office/

Willie Sullivan from the Vote for a Change campaign said:

“From duck islands to second jobs, the Gravy Train is alive and well and on it’s way to Manchester.” “Westminster’s Gravy Train is fuelled by a political system that leaves hundreds of MPs safe to enjoy jobs for life – all expenses paid. In Cameron’s seat, like hundreds of others, you’d need a time machine to see when voters last managed to shake off an incumbent, even though the majority of people continue to back other parties. It’s a system that keeps voters weak, and politicians strong. “Now as Tories arrive in Manchester, we’re asking why a party of the future remains so committed to the politics of the past. We’ve taken our campaign into the seats of MPs who feel voters don’t deserve the final say on the future of their parliament. Cameron has made it clear he isn’t a supporter of reform, but that’s no reason to stand in the way of debate. He can tell us the system works as much as he likes; he just needs to accept that the voters, his employers, might just have an opinion. As all MPs should know politics isn’t about lectures, it’s about debate, and the time for that debate is now “This is about giving voters a choice, a concept all Conservatives should be familiar with - if they’ve read their own literature. We need to call a halt to the Westminster Gravy Train, and David Cameron can either act in the interest of his fellow passengers or in the interests of voters.

Photo Op
Please contact Malcolm Clark on 07733 322 148 for more details.

The ‘Gravy Train’ crewed by Cameron, Blears and Brown will heading to Manchester and Salford.

Sunday - MANCHESTER
1.15 - 2.45pm
Photo op at the train at Owen St car park, before following route past Piccadilly and Oxford Road train stations, culminating at Friends Meeting House

2.45 - 3.15pm
Outside Friends Meeting House, Mount Street. Photos by arrangement only, as we will otherwise be busy setting up for the meeting.

3.15-4.30pm
Public meeting: Have the Conservatives got what it takes to clean up politics, hosted by Martin Bell. This event will be filmed, and members of the press are invited to attend. For more information or a press release contact willie@voteforachange.co.uk

Sunday 4.30 - 5.30
Photos outside of the Friends Meeting House

Monday – MANCHESTER AND SALFORD
10.00-11.00am
Photocall at Friends Meeting House, Mount Street and Albert Square

12:00 - 12.30pm
Photocall and leafleting in Salford, at Hazel Blears MP's constituency office - Jubilee House, 51 The Crescent, Salford M5 4WX

PHOTOS
Hi res photos of the Brighton leg are available to the press.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/voteforachangeuk/sets/72157622475515102/

As eyes focus on Manchester, and what could be the Tories last conference in opposition, campaigners are asking if Cameron’s Party really have what it takes to clean up politics.

The Vote for a Change campaign, which has been leading calls for a referendum on a voting system that let so many of our MPs off the hook, has organised an event hosted by anti-sleaze campaigner Martin Bell, with guests including maverick MEP and star of Youtube and FoxNews Dan Hannon, and Lewis Baston, from the Guardian’s Comment is Free.

With voters facing another unaccountable and unrepresentative parliament at the next election the meeting will be asking if Tory Tinkering is enough to fix our broken politics.

Willie Sullivan from the Vote for a Change campaign said:

“In Brighton Gordon Brown had his chance to let voters decide the future of their parliament. He blew it. His empty promise to put a referendum on the voting system in Labour’s manifesto was a case of words winning out over decisive action. “David Cameron and his party remain steadfastly opposed to letting the people decide how we elect our politicians. So as Tories arrive in Manchester, we’re asking why a party of the future remains so committed to the politics of the past. “The bankrupt politics of first-past-the-post have left the majority of our MPs are free to enjoy jobs for life – all expenses paid. Poll after poll is proving that voters of all parties want change. We’ve seen Tory Tinkering – from calls for smaller parliaments, open primaries, even pricier dinners in the Commons canteen - but not one proposal has any chance of giving all of us a vote that really counts on Election Day. “We’ll see if the Conservatives are willing to grasp the nettle of reform, or are simply interested in grabbing headlines” “Conservatives always describe themselves as the party of choice, and we’ll see if they’re prepared to let the public have that choice at a referendum. Cameron’s promised voters a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, but after all we saw in the expenses crisis the big question of how we hire and fire out MP is just as important. “Politics isn’t about lectures or hollow promises, it’s about debate. And the time for that debate is now.”

A Very British Revolution: The Expenses Scandal and How To Save Our Democracy by Martin Bell due to be published by Icon Books on 2 October 2009.

MEMBERS OF THE PRESS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND
Have the Conservatives got what it takes to clean up politics?
Sunday, October 4, 2009, 3:15pm - 4:45pm
Friends Meeting House, Mount Street, Manchester
A public debate on the eve of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, this is an ideal opportunity for voters in the North West to demand a different kind of politics.

Speakers include:
MARTIN BELL
DANIEL HANNAN MEP
LEWIS BASTON
JOHN STRAFFORD (Chairman of the Campaign for Conservative Democracy)

Photo op
The campaign brought its ‘Gravy Train’ crewed by Cameron, Blears and Brown to Labour’s Conference in Brighton, and will heading to Manchester and Salford. The Gravy Train will be on site from 3:00pm – 3:15pm. Please contact Malcolm Clark on 07733 322 148 for more details.

Hi res photos are available to the press.

(taken from a Vote for a Change media release)

The Vote for a Change campaign, that has been leading calls for a referendum on the voting system, has reacted with disbelief Gordon Brown’s decision to put a referendum in Labour’s Manifesto, rather

Willie Sullivan from the Vote for a Change campaign said:

“Gordon Brown today said that we faced the biggest choices of a generation. With his manifesto pledge of a referendum on the Alternative Vote he’s offered one of the smallest. “After all we’ve seen of the Westminster Gravy train what our politics required was a giant leap. But what Brown said today isn’t even a small step. This is just another empty promise to take that step. Labour promised a referendum in 1997, they didn’t deliver. There is little reason to view this as anything more than a manifesto commitment from a party that may be heading for defeat. Sunshine, lollypops and rainbows may as well be in that manifesto. It amounts to the same thing. A lack of action, and a lack of nerve from a Prime Minister unwilling to embrace real reform. "We are pleased to have won this commitment from the Prime Minister. But if you are committed to the principle of a referendum on the system then you should be principled enough to deliver it when it’s with in your power to do so. "People do well to judge politicians on their actions not their words. Today Brown's speech demonstrated he’s not serious about reform. He has time between now and the Queen’s Speech to build up from amounts to a promise to do nothing.

Hi res shots of the Brighton leg of the gravy train tour are available here: http://bit.ly/125dp4

For any further press enquiries, contact Campaign’s Director Willie Sullivan on 07940 523 842 willie@voteforachange.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

The ‘Vote for a Change’ campaign is leading the call for a referendum on the voting system in the wake of the expenses crisis. It is based on the premise that politics is too important to be left to the politicians.

The Vote for a Change campaign filled Central Hall Westminster during the summer with a rally calling on the government to deliver on a referendum. The campaign has attracted support from thousands of ordinary citizens, heads of prominent civil society and membership organisations.

It has now been promised talks with ministers after an appeal to the Prime Minister signed by 2000 of its supporters. More information is available via the ‘Vote for a Change’ website. http://www.voteforachange.co.uk/

This is our big event at Labour Conference. And a historic one too, with organisations from across the Labour spectrum coming together to co-host a rally on democratic renewal, including electoral reform.

Has Labour Got What it Takes?: Rally for Democratic Renewal

Tuesday 29 September 2009,
20.00 - 21.15
Royal Albion Hotel.

Hosts: Compass, Fabian Society, Progress, Vote For a Change

Chair: Mehdi Hasan, New Statesman

Keynote: John Denham MP

Speakers: Billy Hayes (CWU), Oona King, Dave Rowntree, Professor Jonathan Hopkins (LSE), Neal Lawson

Event is free and open to the public. No passes necessary. RSVP to malcolm@makevotescount.org.uk or simply turn up on the evening.

Class of 2010: the Reformers Reception

Wednesday 30 September 8.30 – 10 pm at the Umi Hotel (on corner of West Street) Brighton

(open to all Labour party members / supporters. No passes needed)

Hosts: Ben Bradshaw, Mary Honeyball, Richard Howitt, Nancy Platts and Sam Tarry. With John Grogan LCER Chair

Supported by our Labour prospective candidates: Cath Arakelian, Paul Blomfield, Simon Burgess, Mark Cann, Damien Egan, Roxanne Egan,
Bruce Hogan, Mike Le-Surf, Bassam Mahfouz, Andrew Pakes, Liam Robinson, Tim Shand, Robert Smith, Stephen Twigg, Julian Ware-Lane and others.

Join us if you think Labour’s policy on electoral reform should be to
“let the people decide” by holding a referendum,
and then vote for a change!

Contact: lcerinfo@yahoo.co.uk / marysouthcott@hotmail.com / 020 7928 2076