UK & World News
The latest UK & World news stories from the Press Association.
MPs back election reform referendum
23:05, Feb 9 2010
A referendum on changing the way MPs are elected will be held by October next year under Government plans passed by the Commons.
Despite strong opposition from the Tories and vocal criticism from some Labour backbenchers, MPs voted 365 to 187, a Government majority of 178, to ask the British people to decide whether the traditional first-past-the-post system should be scrapped in the biggest shake-up of the election system in generations.
But the Government faces an uphill battle to force the changes through Parliament with the prospect of stiff resistance in the House of Lords and time running out before the general election.
Gordon Brown's proposal would allow people to choose whether to adopt an Alternative Vote (AV) system which would allow them to rank candidates in order of preference.
Critics accused Mr Brown of a cynical ploy in order to win the support of Liberal Democrat MPs in the event of a hung parliament at the next general election. The Government also came under fire over the £80 million cost of the plebiscite at a time when public spending is under intense pressure due to the record budget deficit.
The proposals came in committee stage amendments to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill tabled by Justice Secretary Jack Straw.
He told MPs the expenses scandal had led to a "crisis of confidence in our political system and in our politicians on a scale which none of us have witnessed in our political lifetime".
Mr Straw said the AV system was not proportional representation.
The Liberal Democrats wanted to see the more radical single-transferable vote (STV) as a referendum option but said AV was "a small gain but a gain worth having".
A Liberal Democrat bid to include STV as the referendum option, rather than AV, was rejected by 476 votes to 69, a Government majority of 407.
Murdoch expected in wake of arrests 22:05, Feb 11 2012
Rupert Murdoch is expected to fly to London next week after reassuring staff he would not sell The Sun in the wake of a second wave of arrests at the newspaper. more
Man charged with stabbing murder 21:05, Feb 11 2012
A man has been charged with murder after another man was stabbed to death on, police said. more
Protesters show Syria solidarity 19:05, Feb 11 2012
Hundreds of demonstrators have gathered in London in a show of solidarity with protesters across the Middle East and North Africa. more
Six bailed in corruption probe 19:05, Feb 11 2012
Six people arrested as part of an investigation into allegations of corruption have been released on bail, Scotland Yard said. more
Sun man bailed in corruption probe 18:05, Feb 11 2012
A 52-year-old journalist from The Sun who was arrested as part of an investigation into allegations of corruption has been released on bail, Scotland Yard said. more
Temperatures set to plummet again 17:05, Feb 11 2012
Temperatures struggled to rise above freezing across much of the UK after Britain endured its coldest night of the winter. more
Murdoch 'commitment' after arrests 17:05, Feb 11 2012
Rupert Murdoch has reassured staff of his "total commitment" to continue to own and publish The Sun after five members of staff were arrested. more
Police seize spoof poster fanzine 16:05, Feb 11 2012
Thousands of copies of a Manchester United fanzine, which featured a "potentially offensive image", were seized by police before the club's match against Liverpool. more
Sun employees held in hacking probe 16:05, Feb 11 2012
Five employees of The Sun, a serving Surrey Police officer, a serving member of the armed forces and a Ministry of Defence employee have been arrested over allegations of inappropriate payments to police and public officials. more
Police appeal over linked robberies 15:05, Feb 11 2012
A series of robberies on two teenage girls, a woman and an elderly man are being linked by detectives. more
The latest UK & World news stories from the Press Association.
