Businesses urged to support voting reform
LIB DEM and Labour MPs have urged the business community to vote “Yes” in May’s electoral reform referendum.
Speaking in Birmingham at a joint meeting of Business Voice WM and the Institute of Directors, Lorely Burt, MP for Solihull and chair of the Liberal Democrats Parliamentary Party, and Richard Burden, vice chair of the Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform and Labour MP for Birmingham Northfield, claimed change would mean all candidates would have to work harder to garner votes.
The MPs were speaking in advance of the May 5 referendum where people will be asked whether or not they would support reform of the voting system for General Elections from first past the post to the alternative vote, which would bring in an element of proportional representation.
Prime Minister David Cameron is campaigning against the alternative vote but Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is backing what is a method of redistribution based on preferences.
Business Voice WM executive director James Watkins said: “Changes in the voting system would not normally be seen as a business issue. But business people in the West Midlands want to know whether a change in the voting system means candidates would have to work harder to get support – including trying to win business people’s support.
“This is the question that our business community will have to consider. We welcome the fact that when it came to electoral reform a coalition MP and an Opposition MP can come together. Now, it is up to those in business to consider which way they should vote in the referendum.”
