Electoral reform news: peers don’t like democracy, but Labour candidate who lost on vote transfers backs AV

The Independent brings news that those who aren’t elected don’t like being subject to elections:

Clegg: peers are holding Government hostage…

In acrimonious clashes, they warned the Deputy Prime Minister that they would fight his proposals every step of the way…

The show-down – described by one participant as “Daniel in the lion’s den” – came at a meeting between Clegg and members of a cross-party group campaigning against the plans. More than 50 peers from all major parties were present, including the former Liberal leader Lord Steel of Aikwood.

Shock news there, that peers who are against elections are against plans to introduce elections – though the presence of David Steel is disappointing.

Meanwhile, the BBC has the news of Labour’s former Mayor candidate in Stoke. He would have won election under first past the post but even so is supporting the alternative vote (AV):

In 2002 the Labour favourite George Stevenson lost out on becoming directly elected mayor by 314 votes – despite winning the most first votes…

The system he lost out on was called Supplementary Vote, which differs to AV in only allowing the top two candidates to reach a second round.

Speaking from his home near Alicante, former Stoke-on-Trent South MP Mr Stevenson said AV was a fairer version of the current system.

He said: “What we failed to understand is we should campaign for second preference. We, as politicians, have to change the way we approach the electoral process.

“[AV] gives you an opportunity to come in contact with a wider cross-section of society.”