SNP WELCOMES LANDMARK HOLYROOD VOTE FOR DEMOCRATIC REFORM

SNP WELCOMES LANDMARK HOLYROOD VOTE FOR DEMOCRATIC REFORM

Tricia Marwick MSP has welcomed today's landmark vote by the Scottish Parliament in favour of replacing the first past the post voting system for Westminster elections with the much fairer single transferable vote (STV). The vote followed a debate on a Green Party motion.

SNP MSP for Central Fife Ms Marwick said:

"This was a very clear endorsement by a significant majority of MSPs of the need for a fairer electroral system at Westminster, one that would finally give voters a real voice. The SNP has long supported STV as by far the fairest and most democratic voting system, and I am delighted that that is the system which has been endorsed today.

"The discredited first past the post system at Westminster has well and truly had its day. The time is long overdue to genuinely empower the electorate and give them the representation they vote for - that is the powerful message that has been sent by the Scottish Parliament today.

"The Labour-Tory cabal at Holyrood joined forces today to vote against democratic reform - as they have now done on 75% of Scottish Parliament votes, and counting. They would happily betray voters in order to protect their own narrow electoral interests and increasingly cosy clique."