Dundee LibDems back calls for STV for parliamentary elections in Scotland (Dundee Liberal Democrats)

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

Dundee LibDems back calls for STV for parliamentary elections in Scotland

May 19, 2007 3:06 PM

Cllr Helen Dick backs calls for STV for parliamentary elections in Scotland

Dundee Liberal Democrats today (Saturday 19th May) backed calls by the Electoral Reform Society for the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system used in the Scottish council elections to be used in elections to the Scottish Parliament too.

Scottish LibDem Leader, Nicol Stephen MSP, said, "Since we are now using STV to elect Scotland's councils it makes sense to use the same system to elect the Scottish Parliament.

"This month's local government elections have finally quashed the argument that STV is too complicated for voters to understand.

"With a much smaller total of rejected ballot papers in the council elections than in the Scottish Parliament elections, it is clear that having the same electoral system for both elections would have reduced significantly the problems we saw across Scotland."

Locally, here in Dundee, LibDem City Councillor for Strathmartine Wars, Cllr Helen Dick, said, "It simply makes sense to have the same electoral system for local and parliamentary elections in Scotland.

"The suggestion by the Labour MP for Dundee West that a return to first past the post was a way forward would be a backward step as it fails to give a fair result. Having STV for elections to the Scottish Parliament is a sensible and viable alternative, something clearly recognised by the Electoral Reform Society."