2011 United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum

2011 United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum
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Title	2011 United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum
Date	5 May 2011
Yes votes	6,152,607
No votes	13,013,123
Turnout	42.2%

2011 United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum was a national referendum held in the United Kingdom on 5 May 2011, in which voters were asked whether to adopt the Alternative Vote (AV) system for electing members of the House of Commons. The referendum was held in accordance with the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011, which was passed by the Coalition Government led by Prime Minister David Cameron of the Conservative Party (UK) and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats. The Labour Party (UK), led by Ed Miliband, also played a significant role in the referendum campaign, as did other parties such as the Green Party of England and Wales and the UK Independence Party.

Background

The Alternative Vote system was first proposed in the United Kingdom in the early 20th century by Electoral Reform Society and was supported by Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George. However, it was not until the 2010 United Kingdom general election that the issue gained significant attention, with the Liberal Democrats making electoral reform a key part of their campaign, citing the need for a more proportional system, similar to those used in Germany and New Zealand. The Conservative Party (UK) and Labour Party (UK) had traditionally been opposed to AV, but the Liberal Democrats were able to negotiate a referendum on the issue as part of the Coalition Agreement with the Conservative Party (UK), which was signed by David Cameron and Nick Clegg at Downing Street. Other key figures, such as George Osborne and Vince Cable, also played important roles in the negotiations.

The Referendum

The referendum was held on 5 May 2011, with voters asked to answer the following question: "At present, the UK uses the 'first past the post' system to elect MPs to the House of Commons. Should the 'alternative vote' system be used instead?" The Electoral Commission was responsible for overseeing the referendum, with Jenny Watson serving as the commission's chair. The BBC and other media outlets, such as Sky News and ITN, provided extensive coverage of the referendum campaign, which featured debates and interviews with key figures, including David Cameron, Nick Clegg, and Ed Miliband, as well as other prominent politicians, such as Nigel Farage and Caroline Lucas. The University of Oxford and London School of Economics also conducted research on the referendum and its implications.

Campaign

The campaign for the referendum was marked by controversy and debate, with the No to AV campaign, led by Matthew Elliott and supported by David Cameron and the Conservative Party (UK), arguing that AV was a complex and unfair system that would lead to more coalition governments and less accountability. The Yes to Fairer Votes campaign, led by Katie Ghose and supported by Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats, argued that AV was a more proportional and fair system that would give voters more choice and a stronger voice, citing examples from Australia and Ireland. Other parties, such as the Labour Party (UK), were divided on the issue, with some members, such as Ed Miliband and Harriet Harman, supporting AV, while others, such as Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, opposed it. The Trade Union Congress and other organizations, such as the Institute for Public Policy Research and the Fabian Society, also took positions on the referendum.

Results

The results of the referendum were announced on 6 May 2011, with the No to AV campaign winning a decisive victory, with 67.9% of voters rejecting AV and 32.1% supporting it. The turnout was 42.2%, with over 19 million voters participating. The results were seen as a significant defeat for the Liberal Democrats and the Yes to Fairer Votes campaign, and led to renewed debate about the future of electoral reform in the United Kingdom, with some arguing that the Single Transferable Vote system used in Ireland and Scotland could be a more viable alternative. The House of Lords and the House of Commons also debated the implications of the referendum result, with Lord Falconer of Thoroton and Lord Tyler playing key roles in the discussions.

Aftermath

The aftermath of the referendum saw significant repercussions for the Coalition Government and the Liberal Democrats, with Nick Clegg facing criticism for his handling of the campaign and the Conservative Party (UK) seeking to capitalize on their victory. The Labour Party (UK) also sought to exploit the divisions within the Coalition Government, with Ed Miliband calling for a rethink of the government's policies, citing the need for a more progressive approach, similar to that of the Labour Party (Australia). The Electoral Reform Society and other organizations, such as the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust and the Unlock Democracy group, continued to campaign for electoral reform, arguing that the first-past-the-post system was no longer fit for purpose, and that a more proportional system, such as that used in Denmark or Sweden, was needed to ensure greater representation and accountability. The University of Cambridge and University College London also conducted research on the implications of the referendum result, with Professor David Runciman and Professor Tim Bale playing key roles in the discussions. Category:United Kingdom referendums