SHALLOWNESS OF LIBDEM REFERENDUM SUPPORT

SHALLOWNESS OF LIBDEM REFERENDUM SUPPORT

SNP PUBLISH QUOTES SHOWING LACK OF ENTHUSIASM FOR AV

The LibDem insistence on a referendum on the Alternative Vote (AV) being held on the same day as next year’s Scottish Parliament elections is undermined by the complete lack of enthusiasm shown by the Liberal Democrats for AV before this year’s election.

SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson, who published a list of their comments, says that the insistence of the LibDems on going ahead with the AV referendum, despite their previous opposition to that voting system, was a reflection of their weakness within the UK Government, while their refusal to consult with the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland administrations completely contradicted their promise of a respect agenda.

Mr Gibson said:

“Before the election  there was no support for AV amongst Nick Clegg and his party because, as the Lib Dems made clear themselves, it is not a proportional system. That they are now pushing ahead with a referendum for a voting system that isn’t supported by any of the political parties on the same day as the Scottish Parliamentary and Northern Irish and Welsh Assembly elections, shows their newly discovered enthusiasm is little to do with support for AV and more to do with flexing their muscles as junior partners in a Tory-led government.

“By planning to hold such a referendum on the same day as those elections completely contradicts Lib Dem and Tory promises to pursue a “respect agenda” when dealing with the devolved administrations.  Instead they have followed a disrespect agenda on this issue.

“There is a real danger of the Scottish Parliamentary elections being overshadowed and the issues that really matter to the people of Scotland being eclipsed by a media focus on an electoral system that isn’t supported by any of the political parties and wasn’t embraced by the LibDems.

“It just shows that the Tory-led coalition government with the LibDems is just treating the Scottish Parliament and the people of Scotland with contempt.
 
“The SNP will continue to seek a vote at Holyrood at an early opportunity after the recess to use the parliamentary majority – consisting of the SNP, Labour and Greens – to block these undemocratic plans.

“The Coalition Government must allow the voice of the people of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales to be heard and drop these ludicrous plans to have a referendum on a voting system that the Lib Dems have recently attacked for being disproportionate and the Tories will oppose.”