Cameron will campaign against vote system change

David Cameron will campaign against changing the voting system, his spokesman said, in a referendum expected next May.

His spokesman said the PM would be asked his view and “clearly his view is that he’s not in favour of it”.

An agreement to hold a referendum on changing the voting system to the “alternative vote” (AV) was a key part of the Tory-Lib Dem coalition deal.

But it must go through Parliament where many Tory and Labour MPs oppose AV.

The BBC understands a referendum on changing from the current first-past-the-post system to AV is planned for 5 May 2011.

Mr Cameron’s spokesman said on Friday that a commitment to holding a referendum on changing the voting system was “central to the coalition government’s programme”.

But he said: “He will be campaigning against AV. I can’t predict precisely how the campaign will unfold but clearly he is going to be asked his views during that campaign and he will make them clear.

“His view is that he is not in favour of it.”

Mr Cameron suggested to the Sunday Times last month he would not play an active role in the “no” campaign adding: “I will have other things to do as well.”

A change to the voting system was promised by the Tories to the Lib Dems as part of the coalition deal.

See the full BBC article here.