MPs will be voting later today on whether there should be a referendum on changing our current first-past-the-post electoral system to one based on AV.

This is not an area where there is any TUC policy – other than the motion at our Congress last year calling for us to stimulate a debate. This we have tried to kick off by publishing the Touchstone extra on electoral reform.

But in this spirit, here are some thoughts on what AV might mean. Read more »

   Filed under: Electoral reform, Politics | 1 Comment »

As you’ll know if you’ve already had a look through our latest ToUChstone Extra pamphlet, “Getting it in proportion?”, there are as many electoral systems out there as there are elections. But which to choose?

Well to help, we’ve made a clever little test. Give it your opinion on a list of statements about the way you’d like elections to be handled, and it will recommend those of our main 5 systems that most closely match your preferences.

Try it out now, and see how you might handle electoral reform.

   Filed under: Electoral reform | 8 Comments »

Today we publish the latest Touchstone Extra report, “Getting it in Proportion?”. It asks whether we need a new electoral system for Westminster elections. You can click on the image to download a copy. It is designed to help implement the resolution carried at our 2009 Congress that called for a debate within the trade union movement about whether we should move to a more proportional system for electing the House of Commons. It does not come to any conclusion but describes different systems and assesses their strengths and weaknesses. Read more »

   Filed under: Electoral reform | 3 Comments »