ELECTORAL REFORM AND THE SECOND BALLOT SYSTEM

That this House believes that hon. Members should be elected with more than 50 per cent. of the vote; further believes that the constituency link must be retained; notes that the alternative vote system places an artificial constriction on voters' intentions, nudging them to make least worst second preference choices, beforethey actually know the result; agrees that the answer might be what is termed the second ballotsystem (TSB) as used in national electionsin France, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Hungary, Austria, Finland, Slovakia and other countries around the world; further notes that the beauty of TSB is both its fairness and simplicity, because instead of having an alternative vote and artificial second preferences, a ballot is held a week or two later in which the top two candidates compete for pole position, giving voters a few extra days to consider their options based on the first result; further notes that the cost is not significantly greater than thefirst past the post system, according to research by the House of Commons Library, as the cost of the French TSB parliamentary election in 2007 was approximately 2.30 per voter, whereas in the UK the estimated cost of the 2010 General Election was 1.75 per elector; and calls on the Government to bring forward proposals to offer TSB system as an option in the referendum in 2011.