Electoral Reform
Electoral Reform
WILL THE CONCESSION ON ELECTORAL REFORM COME BACK TO BITE CAMERON?
- 56% of people would vote for electoral reform
- 47% of Conservative supporters would vote for electoral change
There is a stark contrast between the supporters of the coalition partners with 84 per cent of Liberal Democrat voters opting for electoral reform compared to just 47 per cent of Conservative voters. Although, perhaps surprisingly, more Conservatives would vote for electoral change than would vote to keep first past the post (41 per cent).
| † | Total | Conservative | Labour | Liberal Democrat |
| I would vote to CHANGE the electoral system | 19% | 47% | 61% | 84% |
| I would vote to KEEP the current electoral system | 56% | 41% | 21% | 7% |
| I would not bother to vote in a referendum | 9% | 1% | 4% | 0% |
| Don’t know | 17% | 10% | 14% | 9% |
James Endersby, managing director of Opinium Research said, ?Electoral reform has become a key issue post election with over half of voters saying they would vote for a change. Reform was not something high on the Conservative agenda before they formed the coalition, but this could prove to be a big concession as more Tory voters say they would vote for reform than those that say they wouldn?t.
?It is fair to say that a move to proportional representation could have a serious impact on the strength of the Conservatives in future Parliaments, so Cameron will have to position the electoral options carefully to avoid potentially harsh criticism from within his own party.?
* Opinium Research carried out an online poll of 1,224 British adults from 12th to 13th May 2010. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria
