text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill - Part 3 - Question for referendum on the alternative vote system
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  
  @ MP voted no against including voting systems which would be expected to result in proportional representation as options in the referendum on how MPs are elected to the commons. 
  @ MP voted aye in favour of including voting systems which would be expected to result in proportional representation as options in the referendum on how MPs are elected to the commons. 
  
  The majority of MPs voted not to include an option allowing people to express a preference for voting systems expected to result in proportional representation during the referendum on the system used to elect MPs.
  
  The majority of MPs voted against a proposal by Green Party MP Caroline Lucas which suggested first asking if the system should be changed at all, then moving on to ask voters to rank the alternative vote, the additional member system, and the âsingle transferable voteâ system with multi-member constituencies, in order of preference. 	
  
  During the debate prior to the vote Caroline Lucas said:
  :"We owe it to the electorate to put before them a choice that includes a genuinely proportional system"[1]
  
  The rejected amendment would have deleted the original question contained within the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill[2] which read:
  
  :Do you want the United Kingdom to adopt the âalternative voteâ system instead of the current âfirst past the postâ system for electing Members of Parliament to the House of Commons?
  
  The questions Caroline Lucas MP was seeking to have that referendum question replaced with were[3]:
  
  :(1) Do you want to change the current âfirst past the postâ system for electing Members of Parliament to the House of Commons?
   		
  
  :(2) If there were a change, list your order of preference, 1, 2, 3, for the United Kingdom to adopt:
  :	(a)    The âalternative voteâ system,
   		
  :	(b)    The âadditional memberâ system, or
   		
  :	(c)    The âsingle transferable voteâ system with multi-member constituencies?â.
   		
  Caroline Lucas explained during debate that she had tabled the amendment on the basis that 
  :"it is contradictory for the coalition to be talking about electoral reform while seeking to offer little more than a Hobson's choice, between AV and first past the post"[4]. Her amendment sought to include the options of STV and the additional member system, which would be much more likely to result "Proportional Representation" ie. with the fraction of MPs in the commons from a particular party reflecting the fraction of the national vote.
  
  
  * [1] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2010-10-12a.282.4 Caroline Lucas MP, House of Commons, 12th October 2010.]
  * [2] [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmbills/063/amend/pbc0631210m.281-287.html House of Commons, amendment sheet Tuesday 12 October 2010] See Amendment no. 7. 
  * [3] [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmbills/063/11063.i-ii.html Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill as introduced on the 22nd of July 2010]
  * [4] [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debate/?id=2010-10-12a.280.2 Caroline Lucas MP, House of Commons, 12th October 2010. ]
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  