Labour MPs attack 'anti-politics' AV ad
By Ned Simons - 13th April 2011
The 'Yes to AV' campaign's election broadcast has been described as the work of "scum" by one Labour front bencher.
The advert shown last night encourages people to vote in favour of changing the voting system largely on the basis that it would stop MPs from fiddling their expenses.
Politicians are in effect depicted as wine quaffing toffs hiding from constituents in their duck houses behind a taxpayer funded moat.
The broadcast drew the ire of three Labour front benchers opposed to voting reform who took to Twitter to express their outrage.
Shadow justice minister Robert Flello tweeted: "Hope the #Yes2AV MPs are proud of way advert depicted us; would like to meet scumbag who came up with advert. #No2AV."
David Hanson, a shadow Treasury minister said: "Saw 'Yes to AV' TV advert last night - whoever wrote it has presumably never a) had help from MP b) worked for MP c) been an MP-appalling ad."
And in a post that highlighted the split within Labour over the referendum, shadow education minister Toby Perkins questioned the involvement of the party's MPs in the broadcast.
He said: "If Ben Bradshaw is okaying these anti politics #yes2av ads... Well, to say the very least, I'm very disappointed. Base. #no2av."
Bradshaw, a former Labour culture secretary, is the head of Labour's Yes to AV bloc and has described the campaign as "Obama-esque".
Of course the No to AV ad presented an equally negative view of MPs rather than a positive argument in favour of keeping first past the post.
Their broadcast features Rik Mayall's Alan B'Stard character sleazing his way into Downing Street as part of a coalition formed in a smoke filled (from burnt manifesto promises) back room.
Article Comments
If I pledge, in my manifesto, to never support any form of fee paying for higher education, what difference does it make if the voting system is First Past The Post or AV if - after the election I do the exact opposite ???
There are numerous breaches of manifesto pledges from the Tories and Lib Dems as well as new unpopular policies now being processed through parliament which were not in the manifestos.
So, some one tell me - what is the point of changing the election system when there is no true democratic representation from the start.
John Collins
13th Apr 2011 at 6:30 pm
Whilst i don't like either ad, i don't think its right for MPs to call people behind them scum.
There is a valid claim behind the Yes campaign in that most of the people only see candidates campaigning in and around an election then once they get elected, we never see or hear from them again.
Whilst AV or any voting system won't change that, it might make a difference to how people vote if they've seen a candidate working hard in the community & trying to engage with people who aren't necessarily involved, they may well be inclined to give them a 1st or 2nd preference.
I'm not trying to knock MPs, i think they need to communicate with us better whilst they are in office.
Nicola
13th Apr 2011 at 2:50 pm
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