Invitation

Wednesday, 21st July 2010

17.00-19.30

Garden, European Parliament Office, 2 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1

A summer party: The Conservatives and electoral reform - an uneasy alliance

Why are we being asked to accept AV or FPTP? Market forces should apply giving the electorate a choice of electoral systems  

Following the disastrous election of 1974, electoral reform had many Conservative supporters.  Since then, electoral reform has largely been off the Westminster agenda, except for the debates about which PR system to adopt for the assemblies and the European Parliament.

Coalition with the LibDems means that electoral reform is now firmly back on agenda – even though most Conservatives are still silent.  

Come and listen to some sensible thinking on the subject and then enjoy a glass of wine and excellent catering in the cool garden of the European Parliament’s London office – before it moves to the old Central Office building in Smith Square this autumn!

Is AV the best system or one cobbled together in a frenzy of coalition bed-making? An electoral system specialist will be on hand to answer your questions to tell you what it means for your seat.

Speakers:

Edward McMillan-Scott MEP , Vice President of the European Union

Douglas Carswell MP , co-author of The Plan and director of Direct Democracy

Keith Best, former MP for Ynys Mon and chairman of Conservative Action for Electoral Reform

Ryan Shorthouse of Bright Blue, "Supporting progressive ends based upon Conservative principles."

RSVP : Janice Small