Why has the Electoral Commission reversed 30 years of National precedent and 9 years of Commission policy to facilitate a combined referendum and general election in May 2011?
In the 13 years before Labour came to power in 1997 there were no major referendums. In the 13 years since 1997, 5 major referendums have been held, another 1 postponed and 1 cancelled as well as many minor referendums. In the next 13 years we are promised several major referendums, local initiatives, MP recalls as well as the use of the EU Citizens Initiative.
At precisely the moment Britain adopts IR , the Electoral Commission adopts a policy of pure pragamatism ensuring that the polling dates of all future major referendums will be contested.
This section will explain some of the issues behind the advice given by the Electoral Commission encouraging the Government to hold the AV referendum at the same time as the devolved elections in Scotland Wales and NI where 17% of the UK referendum electorate live. A major departure in practice for the UK with significant implications for the future use of IR in the UK.
Tags: Combined polls