Cam confronts AV rebels

David Cameron dealt directly with some of his MPs who have threatened to amend the AV referendum bill.

Just a few weeks ago the bill passed its first Commons stages, but several of his backbenchers were unhappy.

David Davis told MPs: "What I fear is that we will have a circumstance where maybe 30 per cent of the population will turn out, maybe 15 per cent or 16 per cent will vote for this system and on that basis we will have the biggest change in our constitutional history for half a century."

Bernard Jenkin said: "The Bill is the worst advertisement for the coalition - a product of back-room party political horse-trading resulting in the AV referendum measure which neither party in the coalition supported in their manifestos. We just have to accept that as the reality of coalition politics."

Today Cameron urged them to "put country first"

"Now, I know there will be compromise, and I know we'll have to do things we might not like," the prime minister said in his conference speech.

"Next May, there'll be a referendum on electoral reform.

"I don't want to change our voting system any more than you do.

"But let's not waste time trying to wreck the bill – let's just get out there and win the vote.

"Because you know what? At its best, this party always puts country first. We'll leave the vested interests to others."

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