This letter has just been published, in the latest issue of PROSPECT magazine:
To the Editor;
Peter Kellner's piece (Jan. '11) on how the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill badly underestimates the effect that AV will have on the composition of the Commons.
Because it puts an end to the main form of tactical voting and to the 'wasted vote' argument, AV changes the expressed first preferences of voters. For example, the rise of the Greens in Australia has been predicated on growing numbers of Aussies voting Green even if and where the Greens have little chance of winning; voters can affords to do this, because their second preferences etc will still count.
If the AV referendum goes through, expect much more substantial changes to British politics (than Kellner has woken up to) - including an accelerated rise for the Green Party.
Faithfully,
C'llr. Rupert Read, one of 21 Norwich Green Councillors
Norwich
NR2 3TT.
Peter Kellner's piece (Jan. '11) on how the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill badly underestimates the effect that AV will have on the composition of the Commons.
Because it puts an end to the main form of tactical voting and to the 'wasted vote' argument, AV changes the expressed first preferences of voters. For example, the rise of the Greens in Australia has been predicated on growing numbers of Aussies voting Green even if and where the Greens have little chance of winning; voters can affords to do this, because their second preferences etc will still count.
If the AV referendum goes through, expect much more substantial changes to British politics (than Kellner has woken up to) - including an accelerated rise for the Green Party.
Faithfully,
C'llr. Rupert Read, one of 21 Norwich Green Councillors
Norwich
NR2 3TT.
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