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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| PM to unveil voting reform plan | PM to unveil voting reform plan |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown will announce plans to examine a new Westminster voting system, the BBC understands. | Gordon Brown will announce plans to examine a new Westminster voting system, the BBC understands. |
| Mr Brown will make a statement to MPs on Wednesday about his reform plans in the wake of the expenses scandal. | Mr Brown will make a statement to MPs on Wednesday about his reform plans in the wake of the expenses scandal. |
| Ministers have discussed an alternative vote system to choose MPs to replace the first past the post method, BBC political editor Nick Robinson said. | Ministers have discussed an alternative vote system to choose MPs to replace the first past the post method, BBC political editor Nick Robinson said. |
| A Tory spokeswoman said: "The prime minister is trying to change the rules because he thinks he will lose." | A Tory spokeswoman said: "The prime minister is trying to change the rules because he thinks he will lose." |
| She added: "If the prime minister is so concerned about democratic renewal there is an easy way to fix that and that is to have a general election." | She added: "If the prime minister is so concerned about democratic renewal there is an easy way to fix that and that is to have a general election." |
| Independent body | Independent body |
| One minister told the BBC: "There is a strong feeling in the cabinet that we should have a bold programme of reform. We don't want to end the next year with a whimper." | One minister told the BBC: "There is a strong feeling in the cabinet that we should have a bold programme of reform. We don't want to end the next year with a whimper." |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the prime minister's statement will not endorse a change of voting system nor any particular system but it will call for a debate on whether the electoral system should be changed and which new system could be adopted. It will not set out a timetable for any change. | BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the prime minister's statement will not endorse a change of voting system nor any particular system but it will call for a debate on whether the electoral system should be changed and which new system could be adopted. It will not set out a timetable for any change. |
| Our correspondent said Mr Brown chaired a meeting of the new Democratic Renewal Council - a group of ministers - which agreed to consider moving towards the so-called alternative vote or AV system in which voters could list their preferences rather than simply voting for one candidate as now. | Our correspondent said Mr Brown chaired a meeting of the new Democratic Renewal Council - a group of ministers - which agreed to consider moving towards the so-called alternative vote or AV system in which voters could list their preferences rather than simply voting for one candidate as now. |
| WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE VOTE? Voters choose their first and second preference and a candidate can only be elected in the first round if they get 50% of the voteIf no-one achieves this in the first round, all but the top two candidates are eliminated and their second preferences redistributedThe candidate with the most votes is then elected class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8068583.stm">Q&A: Voting reform options | |
| The new Home Secretary Alan Johnson recently called for a referendum on electoral reform to be held at the same time as the next general election. | The new Home Secretary Alan Johnson recently called for a referendum on electoral reform to be held at the same time as the next general election. |
| However, sources have told the BBC that it is very unlikely that the necessary consultation and legislation could be carried out in that time. | However, sources have told the BBC that it is very unlikely that the necessary consultation and legislation could be carried out in that time. |
| Our correspondent added that the alternative vote, or AV, was not a form of proportional representation. | |
| Mr Brown will say there would have to be a referendum before any change could be made to the voting system. | Mr Brown will say there would have to be a referendum before any change could be made to the voting system. |
| He will say ministers will push ahead with a bill to make the House of Lords largely or fully elected. | |
| The prime minister also will unveil plans for an independent body to police MPs' expenses, a legally binding MPs' code of conduct, and plans to strengthen Commons committees. | |
| The new cabinet met for the first time after a week of speculation about Mr Brown's future as leader. | The new cabinet met for the first time after a week of speculation about Mr Brown's future as leader. |
| It follows disastrous election results and several resignations by ministers. | It follows disastrous election results and several resignations by ministers. |
| 'Gentlemen's club' | 'Gentlemen's club' |
| Widespread coverage of the MPs' expenses scandal has been blamed in part for Labour's poor electoral performance - which saw its vote share slip to 15% in the European elections. | Widespread coverage of the MPs' expenses scandal has been blamed in part for Labour's poor electoral performance - which saw its vote share slip to 15% in the European elections. |
| Mr Brown has already pledged to end the "gentlemen's club" at Westminster - in which MPs set the rules which govern their own pay and allowances. | Mr Brown has already pledged to end the "gentlemen's club" at Westminster - in which MPs set the rules which govern their own pay and allowances. |
| James Purnell says he hopes to be proved wrong about Gordon Brown | James Purnell says he hopes to be proved wrong about Gordon Brown |
| Mr Brown's reform proposals form part of a number of policy initiatives as he seeks to reinvigorate his government and move on from questions about his future. | Mr Brown's reform proposals form part of a number of policy initiatives as he seeks to reinvigorate his government and move on from questions about his future. |
| It is expected that a long-promised inquiry into the Iraq war will be brought forward and there may be some concessions on plans to part-privatise the Royal Mail, a policy opposed by many Labour MPs. | It is expected that a long-promised inquiry into the Iraq war will be brought forward and there may be some concessions on plans to part-privatise the Royal Mail, a policy opposed by many Labour MPs. |
| 'No vacancy' | 'No vacancy' |
| Six cabinet ministers have resigned in the past week and there has been open dissent from backbench MPs but Mr Brown appears to have seen off any threat to his position after he addressed a meeting of Labour MPs and peers on Monday night. | Six cabinet ministers have resigned in the past week and there has been open dissent from backbench MPs but Mr Brown appears to have seen off any threat to his position after he addressed a meeting of Labour MPs and peers on Monday night. |
| Although several MPs told him he should quit, others cheered and banged desks in support of Mr Brown. | Although several MPs told him he should quit, others cheered and banged desks in support of Mr Brown. |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband told the BBC: "The Parliamentary Labour Party has reached a settled view about the leadership. The Labour Party does not want a new leader. There is no vacancy. There is no challenger." | Foreign Secretary David Miliband told the BBC: "The Parliamentary Labour Party has reached a settled view about the leadership. The Labour Party does not want a new leader. There is no vacancy. There is no challenger." |