Labour holds out olive branch on voting reform

BRITISH Home Secretary Alan Johnson yesterday signalled that Labour would be prepared to open up discussions with the Liberal Democrats on reform of the voting system in the event of a hung parliament.

Johnson went further than any senior Labour figure in suggesting they would be ready to go beyond existing party policy and open up a debate on proportional representation for Westminster elections – a key Lib Dem demand.

His comments came as Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg warned that he would not be prepared to prop up Gordon Brown in office if Labour falls to third place in the popular vote in polling day on May 6.