Luvvies line up to tell you how to vote on AV

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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Celebrities have thrown their weight behind the campaign for electoral reform – writing to voters urging them to support the cause.

Colin Firth, Joanna Lumley and Stephen Fry are among those endorsing the campaign in a Yes To Fairer Votes leaflet sent out to householders.

On May 5, Britain will go to the polls to decide whether to keep Westminster’s historic first-past-the-post system – or replace it with the Alternative Vote system. Famous faces in favour of reform are keen to drum up support.
The three-page leaflet, which is personally addressed to residents, starts out with a letter to the householder, urging them to end the ‘jobs for life’ culture for MPs after the expenses scandal.

The leaflet includes an endorsement from actress Miss Lumley, who says: ‘I hope the Yes Campaign is successful. It will really help our democratic voices be more fairly heard.’

Oscar winner Colin Firth says: ‘This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change our clapped-out voting system for good, so I’m voting Yes.’

Included in the literature is a pamphlet declaring Yes To Fairer Votes.

It also includes the local electoral registration officer’s details and a postal ballot form left blank for the householder to fill out to request a vote by mail.

But some voters became confused – thinking the mailshot was actually an official document entitling them to apply for a postal ballot.

Haringey Council in North London fielded dozens of complaints.

‘Because it’s going out in huge numbers at the same time as the real postal-vote notifications are going out, we’re being accused of passing confidential information to the Yes campaign.’

Voter Ruth Hazeldine said: ‘The way the form reads, it seems the returning officer himself is backing the Yes Campaign.’

Yesterday, the Electoral Commission ruled out launching an investigation into the postal ballot requests. It said: ‘As long as the form complies with our criteria, it is legal and many parties use this at elections.’

Leader of the pack: Ed Miliband addresses a meeting of the Yes campaign, flanked by MPs who also support the change to the AV system

Other supporters of the AV campaign include actresses Helena Bonham Carter, Honor Blackman and comedian Eddie Izzard.

A campaign spokesman said: ‘Everything we do is fully compliant with the guidance and has been scrutinised to exacting standards.’

The Information Commissioner has written to the Yes Campaign and the No to AV Campaign to remind them not to send leaflets to households who had signed up to Royal Mail’s privacy scheme, prohibiting junkmail.

Energy Secretary Chris Huhne was last night rebuked for accusing the anti-AV campaign of using Nazi-style propaganda tactics.

'It's hard enough finding one MP to elect, let alone two'
The saga began when Muslim Cabinet minister Baroness Warsi warned that the Alternative Vote system could allow extremists such as the BNP into Parliament.
Liberal Democrat Mr Huhne attacked his Cabinet colleague and the anti-AV campaign, saying there was an ‘increasingly Goebbels-like campaign from the anti-AV people, for whom no lie is too idiotic, given the truth is so unpalatable to them’.
But Helga Gladbaum, a Labour councillor in Brent, North London, who fled from Nazi-occupied Germany said: ‘I disagree with Sayeeda Warsi on almost everything, but I too am very concerned about the influence that AV could give the BNP.
‘Chris Huhne should be more responsible and think carefully before accusing anyone of Nazism.


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[TrueBlueTerrier]

So if they come in as D2D for your area then residents do not get a No2AV or a Yes2AV which is different to all other electioneering stuff.