Clegg unveils sweeping voting and constituency reforms

SWEEPING reforms to British parliamentary constituencies will be introduced alongside moves to change the voting system, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced yesterday.

The Government’s proposed boundary review, equalising the size of all but two constituencies, would be in place in time for its planned 2015 general election, he said.

Mr Clegg also confirmed a referendum on replacing first-past-the-post Westminster elections with the Alternative Vote (AV) will be held on May 5 next year.

He said that legislation on the boundary review would pave the way for the process to be completed by 2013, in time for the selection of candidates ahead of a poll on May 7, 2015.

“That means that, in the event of a vote in favour of AV, the 2015 general election will be held on the new system and according to new boundaries,” Mr Clegg told MPs.

Under a Bill to be introduced within the next few weeks, Parliament would be dissolved and an election held if no Government could be formed within 14 days of a simple majority vote of no confidence.

In a statement to the Commons, Mr Clegg said: “Together these proposals help correct the deep unfairness in the way we hold elections in this country.”