Poll: voters will reward politicians who have faith in voters on reform

Published: Sunday, September 6th 2009

Referendum would separate ‘real progressives from the reactionaries’ at the polls
 
A YouGov poll for the Electoral Reform Society has shown that a Government prepared to deliver a referendum on voting reform stands to gain from a public demanding accountability at Westminster.
 
Evidence shows that voters in marginal constituencies would be more likely to back Labour if the party finally delivered on its 1997 pledge of referendum.
 
The Society argues that voters are not just concerned with ‘bread and butter’ issues – but are prepared to back politicians who favour radical reform at Westminster. 

Dr Ken Ritchie, the Society’s Chief Executive said:
 

 
Contact:
For more information contact the Ashley Dé 07968791684 or Dr Ken Ritchie on 07754 165551

About us:
The Electoral Reform Society is a a member of The Vote for a Change campaign - calling for a referendum on voting reform on or before the next election, with a process that ensures voters interests are centre stage. Partners include Greenpeace and the Fawcett Society. The campaign is calling for a referendum to feature in the Queen’s Speech. For more see:www.voteforachange.co.uk

The Society advocates the use of the Single Transferable Vote (STV)  in public elections.

Technical details:
Full information will be available on the YouGov website on Monday. www.yougov.com
 
YouGov fieldwork took place on line on 27-28 August 2009, with a sample size of 1,996 adults living in Great Britain. Results are weighted and are represented of the adult population. Marginal seats are defined as the 147 Labour seats most vulnerable to the Conservatives, i.e. the seats that would give the Conservatives a working majority.
 
Voters were asked ‘If Labour were to hold a referendum on changing the voting system not for the next election but for all elections after that would that make you…’ more or less likely to vote Labour?
 
Among people intending to vote Lib Dem, nearly one in three (30 per cent) would be more likely to vote Labour if the party delivered on an electoral reform referendum. 9 per cent felt that it would make them much more likely to vote Labour and 22 per cent somewhat more likely to vote Labour. Only 4 per cent would be put off.
 
Voting intention          

 

	Total	Con	Lab	Lib Dem	Marginal Constituencies
Weighted Sample	1996	647	426	255	435
Unweighted Sample	1996	661	432	233	421

               

If Labour were to hold a referendum on changing the voting system not for the next election but for all elections after that would that make you…?

 

	%	%	%	%	%
Much more likely to vote Labour	6	1	17	8	7
A little more likely to vote Labour	11	5	13	22	11
TOTAL MORE LIKELY	17	6	30	30	17
A little less likely to vote Labour	3	3	5	3	2
Much less likely to vote Labour	3	5	1	1	3
TOTAL LESS LIKELY	6	8	6	4	5
No difference: I would vote Labour anyway	15	2	58	5	17
No difference: I would NOT vote Labour anyway	43	80	0	50	41
No difference: I would not vote at all	5	1	0	1	6
Don’t know	14	5	6	10	14