Report on Scottish Voting Reform "hugely disappointing" says Dundee Liberal Democrat Group Leader (Dundee Liberal Democrats)

Dundee Liberal Democrats <info@dundeelibdems.org.uk>

Report on Scottish Voting Reform "hugely disappointing" says Dundee Liberal Democrat Group Leader

January 23, 2006 8:22 AM

Voting Reform Report "hugely disappointing" say Dundee Liberal Democrats

Commenting on the report of the Arbuthnott Commission released last week, Cllr Fraser Macpherson, Liberal Democrat Group Leader on Dundee City Council said, "The report's contents are hugely disappointing. One of the big failings of the current electoral system to the Scottish Parliament is the regional list voting system, which creates two classes of MSPs. Although the Commission recommends a move to the fair Single Transferable Vote System for the European Elections, it merely recommends tinkering with the Scottish Parliament electoral system - this will not resolve the problems.¨

The Arbuthnott Commission on electoral reform in Scotland reported yesterday. Their report contains 24 recommendations including:

Retaining the current additional member system for electing the Scottish Parliament, but with the introduction of open lists so that voters have the option of choosing individual regional MSPs
STV should be introduced for European Parliament elections and considered for the Scottish Parliament at some point in future "if our proposals ... do not have the intended impact"
Boundaries of Scottish Parliament constituencies should be based on local authority areas
Electronic voting in Scottish elections should replace paper ballots by 2011
Candidates for the Scottish Parliament should not be prohibited from standing in a constituency and on a regional list
Clearer and more positive roles should be developed for constituency and regional MSPs
Scottish Parliament and local government elections should be held on different days