Another pro-democracy demonstration in Reading

Press release and photo opportunity

For immediate release
13 May 2010

Another pro-democracy demonstration in Reading!

Local pro-democracy campaigners will follow up a successful demonstration earlier this week with another call to action today (Friday).

The group will be holding a vigil to call for introduction of a fair voting system based around proportional representation this evening at the Queen Victoria Statute outside the Old Town Hall in Friar Street, Reading, from 6-7 pm.

Around 40 people attended Tuesday’s demonstration outside Reading’s Civic Centre to highlight the need for a new electoral system where the result of the election truly reflects the numbers of votes cast.

The campaigners are concerned that the Conservative – Liberal Democrat coalition government’s plans to hold a referendum on the ‘Alternative Vote’ system do not go far enough and may even be a step back from the current system.

One of the local activists who will be attending the demonstration, Peter Burt, said: “We have a once in a lifetime chance to reform the voting system, so we must make sure that any new voting arrangements are as fair and democratic as possible.

“The new government is planning to hold a referendum on a system called ‘Alternative Voting’, but this is not the best option available.

“According to the Electoral Reform Society’s website, the Alternative Vote system “is very much like First-Past-The-Post” and “is thus not a proportional system, and can in fact be more disroportional than FPTP”.

“We want to see a Single Transferable Vote system introduced, which would fairly reflect voting patterns and give a voice to minority groups.  If STV is good enough for elections in Scotland and Northern Ireland, it should be good enough for Westminster.”

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Photographers are invited to attend the event and take photographs after the gathering has assembled between 18.30 and 19.00 on Friday.