The AV ballot paper was the first whereby I still was unsure upon putting a crossing in one or the other.
I have steadfastly maintained a 'if you want PR, Vote No'. But given that I fail to see how the two main Westminster parties will ever act like Turkey's voting for christmas over PR, I changed my mind and voted yes.
I think people will vote no anyway, although a yes vote won by the celtic nations would be a good, even if a little mischievous. The more we can make the English realise the UK is a bum deal, the better.
I think you've done the right thing, M, and I realize from the previous discussions we've had on the web that it must have involved some hard thinking.
ReplyDeleteAV is a long way from being good, but it's better than what we've got now. It's hard to predict which way this referendum will go, but the bigger prize will be to get STV for our own elections in Wales, local and Assembly. That's something we can both fight for wholeheartedly.
Yes - ultimately AV is no better that FPTP, I suppose any reform is better than none.
ReplyDeleteFor me the clincher has been the arguments used by the no campaign and their supporters. The worst being that its too complex for even Einstein to understand (Western Mail letters page). Given their contempt for the intelligence of the electorate I will vote in favour.
ReplyDeleteCibwr,
ReplyDeleteA fair point, NO 2 AV has been a horrid campaign. Although less nasty Yes 2 AV hasn't been much better.
Its been thoroughly depressing - I think both sides have decided that the public are too thick to cope with real arguments.
ReplyDeleteI think I went on the same journey as you in the end. I am firmly in favour of PR and saw AV as a block in its way. I was (and still am) concerned that if there is a yes vote then 'Welsh' Labour will try to hold all future Assembly elections under AV rather than the current semi proportional top up method, ad it will benefit Labour.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/aberystwyth/2011/01/27/carwyn-backs-av-election-system-for-assembly-91466-28063281/
However I was so put off by the nasty and dishonest campaigning of the No campaign, and simply by who is backing a no vote (The Tories, the right wing of Labour and the BNP) that I couldnt bring myself to support them.
I also realised that if we voted no the AV then Labour would claim that the FPTP system had been endorsed and would seek to elect the Assembly entirely under FPTP.