Backbench Business — Voting Age

Part of Bill Presented — Marriage (Same Sex Couples) – in the House of Commons at 11:29 am on 24 January 2013.

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Photo of Stephen Williams Stephen Williams Liberal Democrat, Bristol West 11:29, 24 January 2013

I and my party colleagues are fundamentally committed to the principle of devolution, not just to the nations of the United Kingdom but, from my perspective, through growing empowerment for local government and city regions. I would like local government to decide its own franchise arrangements. First past the post is a clapped-out, ludicrous system. In Bristol, where we have genuinely competitive four-party politics and all the mainstream English parties compete, Bristol city council ought to have the power to alter its electoral cycle and decide on its franchise. I am therefore fully with the right hon. Gentleman in believing in such subsidiarity in decision making.