Simon Danczuk and Liz McInnes opposed proposed changes to electoral system

Simon Danczuk and Liz McInnes

Both local MPs, Simon Danczuk and Liz McInnes, opposed a move by their Labour Party colleague Jonathan Reynolds MP to replace our current 'First Past The Post' (FPTP) electoral system.

Mr Reynolds, backed by Chuka Umunna MP (Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills), introduced a bill in Parliament this week to change the FPTP electoral system to the Additional Member System (AMS), but MPs overwhelmingly rejected the proposal.

AMS retains some aspects of FPTP – that every voter has a local MP – but also makes the result proportional overall by adding MPs to represent the various regions of the UK.

Simon Danczuk, Rochdale MP, said: "I believe in First Past the Post, it's a straight forward system and easy for the electorate to understand.

"No voting system is perfect, but I think as an opposition we should be focused on winning the next General Election rather than trying to change the rules."

Liz McInnes, Heywood & Middleton MP, said: "I believe that the Bill proposed by my colleagues offers a different kind of proportional representation which maintains the local representation by a constituency MP, which I approve of. However, I am concerned that the Bill would force yet another boundary review, and I also have concerns about whether it would prove to be unwieldy in practice. Above all else, and given that just a few years ago electoral reform was resoundingly rejected by the public in the AV referendum, I think that at this time there are many more important things for us to be giving our attention and energy."

Mr Reynolds's Bill was voted down by MPs by 27 to 164 votes, majority 137 against the motion.