[EM] Britain will get PR referendum, Cook says

[DEMOREP1 at aol.com]

Britain will get PR referendum, Cook says

By Mike Peacock

LONDON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Foreign Secretary Robin Cook insisted on Sunday the 
government would offer Britons a referendum on a proportional representation 
voting system despite disquiet among Labour Party members. 

``We think the people should have the right to decide,'' Cook told BBC 
television. 

Two years ago, a report by Liberal Democrat elder statesman Lord Jenkins, 
whom Prime Minister Tony Blair openly admires, recommended a degree of 
proportional representation for the Westminster parliament. 

Blair requested the report and promised to hold a referendum during the 
five-year lifetime of the current parliament. 

But since then things have gone very quiet as proportional representation has 
denied Labour overall control of devolved assemblies in Wales and Scotland 
and handed it a stunning defeat in European parliament elections. 

Government officials now openly admit that there is no time, or inclination, 
to hold a vote before the next election, likely to be held within 18 months. 

But Cook, a prominent fan of PR, said the promise would be met at some point. 
``I have every reason to expect we will deliver on that commitment to hold a 
referendum,'' he said. 

The opposition Liberal Democrats, Britain's third party, are desperate for 
proportional representation. As most people's second-favourite party, they 
invariably win fewer seats than their poll ratings merit. 

LibDem leader Charles Kennedy said his party would continue to cooperate with 
the government on electoral reform even though he now thought there would be 
no referendum soon. 

``We don't know the life of this parliament but I would have though it looks 
less rather than more likely,'' he said. 

BLAIR HAS LONG BATTLE AHEAD 

Labour grassroots opposition to proportional representation is overwhelming. 

After 18 years in the political wilderness, the party has a record majority 
in parliament and is riding high in the polls. 

Blair's cabinet includes key members violently opposed to closer links with 
the LibDems, including Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and Home Secretary 
Jack Straw. 

And opposition on the ground, where party activists fight uncompromising 
campaigns with no love lost, is even fiercer. 

Last week, newspapers reported a consultation with party members and 
affiliates had come out overwhelmingly against PR. 

A Labour source told Reuters the stories were premature at best as the 
submissions had only just been returned. 

But he admitted nothing would happen quickly with members' views discussed by 
a national policy forum headed by Cook and then debated at the party's annual 
conference in October. 

But political analysts do not rule out a form of power-sharing with the 
LibDems one day. 

Blair has always stated his first goal is two consecutive terms in power. His 
longer-term dream is to make the 21st century a century dominated by 
``progressives,'' just as the main opposition Conservatives loomed large over 
the last 100 years. 

Analysts believe that after two terms, he could opt for PR, attempting to 
keep the Conservatives out of power for decades. 

The Tories never got 50 percent of the vote between 1979 and 1997 but held 
power with comfortable majorities in parliament. 

``We would not have had 18 years of Conservative rule with large majorities 
if it were not for the current electoral system,'' Cook said. 

06:33 01-09-00