Will election reform happen for UK parliament?

[rob in cal]

I read some article a few months ago that Labor is rethinking the idea of some change from first past the post elections for parliament seats, going either to PR or at least alternative vote like Australia does for its House of Reprsentatives.  Any new developments on this, and if it had to go to a referendum what would be the chances of major election reform passing?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Not in the short term, no, that doesn't look likely. Longer term is as unknown as always.

[minionofmidas]

Soon as we finally get a hung parliament.

[You kip if you want to...]

I think the only reason Brown is considering reform is so that he'll have the Lib Dems support in the event of a hung parliment.

[doktorb]

Typical unfortunate irony for us LibDems. We get the chance of electoral reform but for the wrong reasons 

[afleitch]

I don't think it's likely. Labour can easily be converted to propenents of AV (which models of previous elections suggest would make votes=seats for Labour more disproportionate rather than less)

The problem with reforming the voting system is that we have to reform the political system in order to do so. If we change the system to give the potential for coalitions and minority party representation, the Commons has to reform so that such arrangements don't impact on the traditional system of government.

[k-onmmunist]

Nope. Our parties would never do something as useful as making elections fairer.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

If it didn't happen at 1983, I doubt it will happen in the long term.