Editing Alternative vote plus (section)

== Reaction in the UK ==
Then Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] issued a statement, saying that the report "makes a well-argued and powerful case for the system it recommends"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/the_jenkins_report/203930.stm|title= BBC News - The Jenkins Report - Cautious reaction on voting reform|access-date=2009-05-25 | date=1998-10-29}}</ref> and that "it is very much a modification of the existing Westminster system, rather than any full blown PR system as practised in other countries." He also praised Lord Jenkins for his work and gave the recommendations a cautious welcome, pointing out in particular that change would help address the "complete absence of Conservative representation in Scotland", a reference to the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|then most recent election]] in which the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] failed to win a single seat in Scotland, despite winning 17.5% of the Scottish vote.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scottishaffairs.org/backiss/pdfs/sa20/SA20_Denver.pdf|title=THE 1997 GENERAL ELECTION IN SCOTLAND: AN ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS|access-date=2011-04-22|date=Summer 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003123554/http://www.scottishaffairs.org/backiss/pdfs/sa20/SA20_Denver.pdf|archive-date=2011-10-03|url-status=dead}}</ref>

However, leading figures in the Cabinet at the time (such as Home Secretary [[Jack Straw]], Deputy Prime Minister [[John Prescott]], Chancellor [[Gordon Brown]], and [[Margaret Beckett]]) and the [[Labour NEC]], all strongly opposed reform of the voting system, and blocked change at that time.{{cn|date=July 2024}} 

The report was welcomed by the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] and the [[Scottish National Party|SNP]], although at the time the Liberal Democrats remained largely committed to [[Single transferable vote|STV]], but preferred AV+ to [[first-past-the-post]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.takebackpower.org/100_days_to_save_democracy.html| title = Liberal Democrat proposal from TakeBackPower.org | access-date = 2009-05-26| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090531090053/http://www.takebackpower.org/100_days_to_save_democracy.html| archive-date= 31 May 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref>
The report was heavily criticised by the Conservative party, with leader [[William Hague]] branding its proposals "a dog's breakfast".

In a May 2009 article in ''[[The Times]]'', Health Secretary [[Alan Johnson]] called for a referendum on the adoption of this system as part of the response to the 2009 [[United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal|parliamentary expenses scandal]]. In this piece he praised the system as "an elegant solution".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6355254.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430063555/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6355254.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=30 April 2010 | title = The Times: There is an alternative to our damaged system - Alan Johnson MP | access-date = 2009-05-25 | location=London | date=2009-05-25}}</ref> [[David Cameron]], Leader of the Conservative Party, declared on May 26 that his party did not support the AV+ system, or any other form of [[proportional representation]], as it would end up choosing a government "on the basis of secret backroom deals".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8067505.stm| title = BBC news: Cameron in 'people power' pledge  | access-date = 2009-05-26 | date=2009-05-26 | work=BBC News| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090526013114/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8067505.stm| archive-date= 26 May 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref>

In June 2009, it was reported by the [[BBC]] that the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]], [[Gordon Brown]], was considering changing the electoral system as part of a package of constitutional reform.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8092235.stm| title = BBC news: Brown to propose electoral reform  | access-date = 2009-06-09 | date=2009-06-10 | work=BBC News| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090610013111/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8092235.stm| archive-date= 10 June 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> In February 2010, the Labour government under Gordon Brown offered a Commons vote on a referendum for an alternative vote system, possibly manoeuvering for political positioning in case of a [[hung parliament]] following the general election on May 6.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8492272.stm| title = BBC news: MPs set for electoral reform vote  | access-date = 2010-02-01 | date=2010-02-01 | work=BBC News| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100204092840/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8492272.stm| archive-date= 4 February 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> In a BBC interview on Election Night 2010, Home Secretary [[Alan Johnson]] suggested he would like to see the AV+ system introduced if a deal with the Liberal Democrats became necessary.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/may/06/uk-election-night-instant-comment| title = Guardian Election Night Live  | access-date = 2010-02-01 | date=2010-02-01 | work=Guardian | location=London | first1=Jackie | last1=Ashley | first2=Julian | last2=Glover | first3=Martin | last3=Kettle | first4=Anne | last4=Perkins}}</ref>

[[2011 United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum|A national referendum]] on the [[Alternative Vote]] system was granted as part of the [[Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition agreement]],<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7144915.ece| title=Cameron won't lead campaign to save first-past-the-post voting |access-date = 2010-06-06 | location=London | work=The Times | first=Jonathan | last=Oliver | date=2010-06-06}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> but not AV+. The Jenkins Commission rejected plain AV on the basis that it did little to relieve disproportionality,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm40/4090/chap-5.htm#c5-a |title=The Report of the Independent Commission on the Voting System |access-date=2011-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021217012514/http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm40/4090/chap-5.htm#c5-a |archive-date=2002-12-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> but favoured it over first-past-the-post as the basis for AV+.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm40/4090/chap-7.htm#c7-d |title=The Report of the Independent Commission on the Voting System |access-date=2011-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012010247/http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm40/4090/chap-7.htm#c7-d |archive-date=2009-10-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[2011 United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum|referendum on AV]] was held on 5 May 2011. Voters rejected the proposed AV voting system by a vote of 68% to 32% in favour of retaining First Past the Post.  The turnout of registered voters was 42%.