Labour credibility

WHAT exactly is Labour's attitude towards the introduction of the alternative vote for Westminster elections? I can sympathise with Thomas Docherty MP's plan to move the date of the referendum on the matter to one different to that of the Holyrood elections (your report, 28 July).

This has to be qualified by the suspicion that Labour is about to reverse the commitment it made at the time of the general election, and campaign against the measure outright. Gordon Brown was anxious at the time to stress a key point.

It was to make sure that all MPs had to have the support of at least 50 per cent of those voting. This should be part of a wider programme to restore voters' faith in politics. It was not to be seen as a move towards proportional representation which most members of his party abhor.

Labour's credibility on cleaner politics could be put on the line if it abandons its pledge simply to give the coalition a bloody nose. On a late night television programme recently I saw Labour leadership contender David Miliband affirm that he was happy to campaign in support of AV. It is a test of his strength of character that he highlights that point in the coming weeks.

The introduction of the alternative vote is not a major voting reform. But Labour needs to back it if it is to help restore faith in the political system.

BOB TAYLOR

Shiel Court Glenrothes