Open Letter to the NoToAV Campaign

`Dear Sir/Madam,

Until quite recently, I was sitting on the fence of the Yes/No to AV debate. I can see the good and bad points of both systems. Our current system is clearly broken, it allows MPs to be selected even if the majority of the electorate vote against them, and it forces many people to vote tactically, often having to vote for their second choice just to keep their least favourite out. On the other hand, AV is a compromise and still not true proportional representation, it will take longer to count the votes, and any BNP supporters who until now have voted tactically will now vote for their first choice.

I have now made my decision to vote 'yes' to AV in tomorrow's referendum, and ironically it is the 'NoToAV' campaign that's convinced me to do so. So far I've actually heard nothing from the Yes camp, although during my visit to their website I read some very good points, some answers to common criticisms, and the whole thing was quite informative without scaremongering or being patronising. Compare this to the rubbish that I've had through the post from the No camp. The first leaflet posted to my household was pure comedy and read like an article from a right-wing tabloid, misrepresenting statistics to support an agenda, bold statements with absolutely no sources or figures to back them up, and in many cases outright lies. It also claimed that millions of pounds will need to be spent in order to teach people how to use the new system... which is a bit of an insult to peoples' intelligence. I agree, most people in this country are morons, but I'm sure most of them can count.

This morning I received a second, shorter leaflet which contained many of the same statements but this time omitting any kind of justifications, presenting them as fact, and going further and further into what I like to call 'worst case fantasy land'. The leaflet insists that AV will cause more coalitions - an arguable claim - and that in the event of a coalition, Nick Clegg will get to choose the prime minister "by cutting a deal behind closed doors after the election." This is nonsense... even assuming the result of the next general election is identical to the last one (and it won't be), Nick Clegg didn't 'choose the prime minister'. The Lib Dem/Tory coalition was the only way to form a majority government, and I'm sure Clegg's first choice for PM would have been himself!

The leaflet then goes on to explain that someone else's fifth preference will be worth the same as my first. Again, this is worst case being presented as if it's the norm. Reverse the situation, it's entirely possible that my fifth preference will be worth the same as someone else's first, but if I managed to pick so many unpopular MPs that my fifth choice was taken into account, then surely I should be grateful... under FPTP anyone who doesn't vote for the winner is effectively ignored. Finally, it's claimed in the leaflet that under AV supporters of the BNP and other fringe parties will decide who wins. So you're saying that if I support a 'fringe party' my vote shouldn't count? I dislike the BNP as much as anyone but under AV they'd need more votes to get in than under the current system, which is why they're opposing AV. Your 'no' campaign can't really use the BNP as a scare tactic when they're on your side!

My general opinion of this is simple: if you have to lie and mislead in order to get your point across, then maybe you don't have such a good point in the first place. And it is for this reason, NoToAV campaign, that I shall be voting 'yes' tomorrow. I'm not entirely sure who handles your PR, but as a piece of friendly advice you might like to consider hiring someone different in any future campaigns.

Yours faithfully,

Ash, Madhouse Beyond.`