Campaigners pressing for a vote on electoral reform have welcomed news from Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw that “it would be a missed opportunity not to have a referendum on Election Day.”

In an interview with the New Statesman the Bradshaw broke with the government’s stated policy of pushing talk of a referendum into the next parliament. Bradshaw said “if we’re serious about the voters as grown-ups, then let them decide, and I think they’d be perfectly capable of making a decision.”

The Vote for a Change campaign and the Electoral Reform Society, that have been leading calls for vote at the next election, have said “there’s all to play for.”

The campaign is towing a 10 foot effigy of Sir Peter Viggers Duck Island to the Commons terraces for Bonfire Night as a symbol of how little has changed in the struggle to bring real accountability to Westminster.

Dr Ken Ritchie from the Electoral Reform Society said:

Ben Bradshaw’s comments are welcome news for all those who’ve realised our politics had reached its sell by date. We are pleased to see a cabinet minister prepared to question both the timing and system on offer in Brown’s conference pledge.

Ben Bradshaw has recognised the Alternative Vote is a step back from Labour’s early pledges to transform our politics. We need this debate in government. It sends a strong message to all reformers that there’s all to play for.

Willie Sullivan from the Vote for a Change campaign said:

It seems nothing has really changed at Westminster, but by showing his willingness to act on reform on Election Day Brown can turn the page. Brown can swap words for decisive action. He can show he’s prepared to let the voters decide the future of their parliament when MPs gather for the Queen’s Speech on November 18th.

The Vote for a Change campaign will be towing a 10 foot DuckIsland to the Commons terraces today to underline how little has changed since MPs left for recess. The effigy will be burnt after dark.

From a press release

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