Our Constitution

There is another thing which is deeply concerning about the upcoming referendum on AV. How is it possible to suppose that if the 'yes' vote achieves a majority on a less than 50% turnout that the result can be said to have any real legitimacy? It is extraordinary that the government refused to accept the House of Lords amendment to the Bill that there should be a minimum turnout of 40% for the voting change from first past the post to AV. 40% was already a very low threshold and should have been at least 67%. Thus a truly insignificant minority can change our constitution making an oddball minority even more powerful. It simply cannot be right that a minority can rule the majority. This will lead to considerable resentment amongst that element which did not vote 'yes' and one can foresee that if the same rule is applied to referenda on more emotionally charged issues that the result could lead to unrest. In order for referendum decisions to have legitimacy no future referendum should be held which is not subject to a threshold turnout. We just have to ensure in the meantime that the referendum on AV is lost. Hopefully David Cameron and other top Tories will campaign hard for the 'No' vote, unlike the by-election campaign they ran in Oldham & Saddleworth.