Nick Clegg denounces claims that AV would cost £250m
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Nick Clegg stoked up the Cabinet row over electoral reform by denouncing claims that switching to the alternative vote system would cost £250m as “complete and utter fiction”.
With less than a month to the referendum on scrapping first-past-the-post elections, the Deputy Prime Minister delivered a fierce denunciation of the “No to AV” tactics.
The campaign, backed by senior Tory ministers, has claimed in advertisements that introducing AV would cost £250m, half of which would be the expense of buying electronic counting machines.
But Mr Clegg said there were no plans to buy such devices and put the cost of running the next general election – on either system – at £120m. He told MPs: “This £250m figure is complete and utter fiction."
He added the present system was “self-evidently broken” with many MPs only needing to gain 30 per cent of votes in their constituencies.
“No wonder we had expenses scandals. If you want more duck houses vote ‘no’, if you want more accountability vote ‘yes’."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments