AV: The 'No Campaign' in quotes

James Cracknell, Boris Johnson and David Cameron are among the high profile supporters for the current first past the post system. Here is a round-up of the NO campaigners in their own words: 
 

David Cameron:

“I just feel it, in my gut, that AV is wrong. Politics shouldn’t be some mind-bending exercise.

“It’s about what you feel in your gut – about the values you hold dear and the beliefs you instinctively have. And I just feel it, in my gut, that AV is wrong.

“There are three big problems with AV that strike at the heart of how I believe our democracy should work.

“First, I believe power should lie with the people – and AV would take some of that power away.

“Second, I believe there should be real accountability between the pledges politicians put in their manifestos and the action they take in government.

“AV would damage that chain of accountability. And third, I believe in the principle of one person, one vote.

“If you want a system that makes your politicians accountable.

“If you want a system that enshrines the principle of one person, one vote.

“You must vote on May 5th, and you must vote No to AV.

“The biggest danger right now is that Britain sleepwalks into this second-rate system, waking up on May 6th with a voting system that damages our democracy.

“We must not let that happen. So we’ve got to get out there and fight, and get out there and win.”

James Cracknell OBE Double Olympic gold medallist

“A healthy democracy depends on people voting in a system that is simple and fair. The Alternative Vote is so complicated that it will put people off voting and if it allows people who come in third to win then it’s certainly not fair. Let’s keep it simple and fair and vote No to AV on 5 May.”

Boris Johnson London Mayor

"Where is the evidence that these MPs will become more diligent, more conscientious, more in touch with their electorate through the introduction of AV? It is complete tripe.

"If you are sitting on more than 50 per cent of the vote, you are not even affected. Then I suppose there are still some people who have become hopelessly confused, and think that AV is something to do with "fair votes", and proportional representation.

"It is not. It would do nothing whatever to address the problem of Labour under-representation in the South East and Tory under-representation in the north, Scotland and Wales.

"When Roy Jenkins was asked by Tony Blair to report on voting reform, he wrote that AV should be ruled out because it would actually make the system less proportional and less fair."

Lord Reid

“This campaign is about defending the right of one person, one vote – a system that has been the foundation of our democracy for generations. A system that gives exactly the same voting rights to every single person, irrespective of background or station in life.

“That is the British way, it is the fairest way, and it is the best way.

"I stand with those ordinary people of this country who have no party affiliation at all, but who want to defend their own right to an equal and fair say in choosing their government. That is what this campaign is about.

“So my message today is simple. It’s your vote. Your right to a fair say – a say and a vote equal to everyone else. No more, no less than any other voter in this country. Don’t let them take that right away. Vote No on the 5th of May.”

Ross Kemp

“I believe that equality is important, which is why I support One Person, One Vote. On 5 May I will be voting No, I hope you do too.

"The Alternative Vote is unfair and unpredictable. It gives the supporters of fringe and extremist parties the opportunity to have their votes counted several times.

Jim Murphy, Shadow Defence Secretary:

“I have waited in the expectation that the pro-AV campaign would make a convincing new argument. They haven’t, so when the referendum comes on May 5 I have decided to vote No.

"Some of the arguments made by the pro-AV campaign are, I think, counter-productive. To use the entirely justified public anger about MPs’ abuse of expenses as a driver for an AV voting system risks further alienating the public from the political process because everyone knows AV wouldn’t deal with that problem.

"The idea that AV would have prevented previous misuse of expenses is wishful thinking."

David Gower OBE, former England cricket captain

“I’m used to a system in sport, in cricket specifically, where if you win, you win; it’s as simple as that. If you’re first, if you’ve got more runs, you win the game. I can’t see why politics should be any different. You want the best to be at the top, and if they are the best, they will win.

“This whole proposed system of AV is, I think, the equivalent of what we would say in cricket or what we would call in cricket the ‘googley’ – a ball designed to deceive, designed to confuse a batsman. If you don’t read it, you don’t understand it, you can’t play it.”

Darren Gough England cricketer

“I talk sport every single day, four till seven, so I know a level playing field when I see it. In cricket, you’re either in or out. So when I played cricket for England, when I was given out, I had to walk, I had to go. You didn’t get a second chance, so why should it be any different in politics?

“In cricket, we have what they call the corridor of uncertainty, and if you vote yes to AV, that’s exactly what you’re getting, but in politics. That’s why you’ve got to vote ‘no’ to AV on 5 May.”

Sir Frank Williams CBE Founder and manager of the WilliamsF1 Formula One racing team

“Under our current voting system, the winner is the one who comes first. It’s simple and it’s fair. That’s why we’ve used that system for decades for electing MPs and for deciding who wins sporting events, such as motor racing.

"AV would give the losers, but not the leaders, several cracks at choosing who to vote for, letting the second or third placed candidate squeak home by getting extra votes from supporters of even less popular parties. That’s no way to run a fair race and that’s why I’ll be voting No on 5 May.”

Eddie Jordan founder and former owner of Jordan Grand Prix

“The winner must always be the one who finishes first. In a contest it’s impossible to accept a situation where the second or third placed person could win the race, it simply defies logic. The second placed was always the first of the losers. Nothing could or should change that.”

Ron Dennis CBE Executive chairman of McLaren Automotive and McLaren Group, winner of 8 Formula One World Championships

“To win is to achieve victory or finish first in a competition. In an election, as in a motor race, the competitor who comes in first should be victorious. We should keep the first past the post electoral system and be represented by election winners.”

Sam Waley-Cohen Jockey, 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner

“Those who follow racing know that First-Past-the-Post works. It is clear, and gives a decisive winner to each contest.

"The Alternative Vote system would be a step backwards for democracy, giving greater say to the also-rans rather than those backing the winner.”

Nigel Twiston-Davies Two-times winning trainer Grand National

“Winning races is my passion. Coming second or third is some consolation but does not pay the bills. First Past the Post works well in elections. The political spoils go to the candidate who comes first, not second or third. That is why I am voting No to AV in the referendum on 5 May.” Telegraph