Clause 1 — Referendum on the alternative vote system

Part of Deferred Divisons – in the House of Commons at 7:30 pm on 16 February 2011.

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Photo of Ian Murray Ian Murray Labour, Edinburgh South 7:30, 16 February 2011

One of the key arguments being made is that AV would mean that all Members of the House would have 50% of the vote, or close to it, and therefore have legitimacy. Does it not follow that if there is a miserly turnout in the referendum, it will not have legitimacy and the matter should come back to the House for us to debate whether the result should stand?