WILL THE CONCESSION ON ELECTORAL REFORM COME BACK TO BITE CAMERON?

• 56% of people would vote for electoral reform
• 47% of Conservative supporters would vote for electoral change

A referendum on electoral reform has been promised by the new coalition Government and over half of people (56 per cent) would vote in favour of change compared to just one in five (19 per cent) who would keep the current system according to a new survey* from Opinium Research.

There is a stark contrast between the supporters of the coalition partners with 84 per cent of Liberal Democrat voters opting for electoral reform compared to just 47 per cent of Conservative voters. Although, perhaps surprisingly, more Conservatives would vote for electoral change than would vote to keep first past the post (41 per cent).

James Endersby, managing director of Opinium Research said, “Electoral reform has become a key issue post election with over half of voters saying they would vote for a change. Reform was not something high on the Conservative agenda before they formed the coalition, but this could prove to be a big concession as more Tory voters say they would vote for reform than those that say they wouldn’t.

”It is fair to say that a move to proportional representation could have a serious impact on the strength of the Conservatives in future Parliaments, so Cameron will have to position the electoral options carefully to avoid potentially harsh criticism from within his own party.”