It seems certain the referendum on a change to the voting system for the House of Commons will be held on the same day as local authority elections next year, May 5.

I am an electoral reformer, and will be campaigning for a Yes vote. The alternative vote is not a truly proportional voting system, but is a significant improvement on our first-past- the-post system.

It makes all votes count, and should improve voter turnout.

It will end tactical voting and allow people to vote for what they believe in, and use their second and third preferences to select the next nearest party and/or candidate to their views.

It will mean all MPs will be able to claim the support of more than half their constituents, currently true of less than a third of MPs.

It will also force parties to rethink their electoral strategies as all voters become important, not just the swing voters in key marginals.

The first-past-the-post system harks back to a Queen Anne era when Whigs and Tories battled it out. Today’s politics require a system that reflects this.

The alternative vote does not damage the constituency link, improves the legitimacy of representatives, and gives the voters a more accountable system.

Julian Ware-Lane
Nelson Road
Leigh