No to AV claim over BNP votes

BNP supporters will enjoy up to six votes in parts of the country if Britain switches to the alternative vote (AV) system for general elections, it has been claimed.

The No to AV campaign stepped up the war of words ahead of the May 5 referendum — warning the “bedrock” of one person, one vote was under threat.

But supporters of AV poured scorn on the claim, pointing out that the far-right BNP opposed change, fearing it would be squeezed out.

A Yes campaign spokeswoman said: “AV is one person one vote. The difference is you get a vote that really counts.”

Under AV, voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives more than 50 per cent of the vote, the second preferences of the lowest-placed candidate are redistributed until someone clears the 50 per cent bar.

The No to AV campaign has published an analysis of Westminster seats where the BNP has support — and where the party’s backers could have had their votes counted many times.

While supporters of the eventual winner have their votes counted for the same candidate in each round, backers of fringe parties would see their votes added to the totals of different candidates over the course of the counting.

The No to AV campaign said in the Oldham East and Saddleworth by election there were 10 candidates, none won more than 50 per cent of the vote, so under AV there would have been a series of redistribitions. This would have seen:

::The 67 people who voted Bus Pass Elvis would have been able to register eight preferences.

::530 who voted Green would have got four preferences.

::The 1,560 who voted BNP would have had three preferences.

::But the 30,359 peoplewho chose Labour, Lib-Dem or Conservative would have had only one preference counted.