"Alternative vote" is a much better idea than proportional representation.

They picked the same day as the Welsh & Scottish elections, the arrogant w**kers.

While I sort of agree with your sentiment, bear in mind it saves money by using the same resources at the same time. The same thing routinely happens with the council elections.

How is that arrogant? It seems practical and sensible to me.

btw it's also the English local elections that day you arrogant w*nker.

Well problem is that will people put Liberal as second choice now?

Nope.

Many will now wait for Labour to get their house in order, have some good ideas for the first time in ages and to maybe have a chance in 2 elections time after numerous LiBDem MPs get disillusioned with being the Tory biatches and split the coalition, forcing another election and a probable Tory majority.

Politics is pointless. It really is. Stagnant.

Yes but Labour voters would have voted Liberal to keep the Tories out and the same would apply to most Liberal voters. They would vote Labour to keep the Tories out. Though with the Liberals showing their colours maybe the BNP will pick up even more votes now.

Because the Welsh and Scottish election dates were already arranged.

Having England's local elections and Wales & Scotland's elections on the same day is hardly the same thing as we will be voting different things in our own countries, yet Westminster sees fit to arrange a referendum on the same day as devolved elections, meaning the Welsh & Scottish have to contend with two different elections at the same time. To you and me that doesn't sound so bad, but the general population are a bit "slow" and the side effect will be low turnout on both or either - that means the Tory scum get their way and keep first past the post, or The Welsh or Scottish elections end up with a low turnout, discrediting our own governments and desire to be free from English rule. Either way, the Tories win. They want the devolved nations to be subservient and they also want first past the post.

You need to remember that they take the second vote from the lowest scoring candidate and work their way up until somebody has 50%.
People who vote Tory/Lab/Lib may find their second vote doesn't matter as there will already be a winner by they time it gets to them.

Are we going to have a poll on whether we will vote for FPTP/AV/Pie?

Gav, that's the point. The English local elections are arranged as well.

It's common to book up such things, as it often involved hiring venues and closing schools. It makes even more sense to arrange a referendum to fall on the same day, because it means the polling stations are already set up.

It happened with the general election, too.

Also add in the cost savings. The additional costs of adding an extra vote are minimal.