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PRIME Minister Sir Keir Starmer ruled out electoral reform in the Commons today, brushing aside Labour’s own agreed policy on the issue.
He was challenged by Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) to give effect to a vote by MPs earlier this week to switch elections to a form of proportional representation.
The Commons voted by 138 to 136, with many abstentions, to approve a Bill introduced by Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney to change to PR.
Labour MPs were divided in the vote, with 59 backing Ms Olney’s Bill and 50 opposing.
However, support for electoral reform is official party policy agreed by conference.
None of this cut any ice with Sir Keir when pressed. He told Sir Ed that electoral reform “is not our policy,” which is not true.
He also pointed out that in July’s election that Liberal Democrats “didn’t do too badly under the present system,” which is.
For the first time in generations, the number of seats won by Sir Ed’s party — 72 — nearly aligned with its 12.2 per cent share of the vote.
