Schedule 10 — The alternative vote system: further amendments

Part of Cheques – in the House of Commons at 9:39 pm on 2 November 2010.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Simon Hughes Simon Hughes Deputy Leader, Liberal Democrats 9:39, 2 November 2010

No, I am not giving way.

Nobody argues that there should not be exceptions in extreme cases, which is why two seats have been singled out. That has never been in dispute. There is an argument, which has been tested, as to whether there should be other exceptions, such as other island communities. That is an argument that will not go away in the debates up the corridor, and nor should it, because there are reasonable arguments for an extension down that road. However, I hope that we accept the principle that, wherever humanly possible, the number of electors should be similar, because that is the only way to ensure that this place can proportionately reflect the views of the electorate and that we can all be elected in a similar way.