Pirate Party Disappointed with AV Referendum Results

The Pirate Party UK is disappointed with the result of the referendum on the adoption of the Alternative Vote.

Loz Kaye, Party Leader, spoke of his personal dissatisfaction with the result.

"This result sets the Electoral Reform Movement back significantly. AV was to be a step towards a better system, but now we will be stuck with the awful system that is FPTP."

"Detractors may say that this result means that the people don't want electoral reform at all. This is not necessarily true. We — as a nation — should explore other, and better, ways of improving the outdated system we have."

Finlay Archibald, top MSP candidate for the Glasgow region, also pointed out the subtleties of the result.

"Just because people were not impressed with AV, it doesn't mean they want politics to stagnate. Many of those who voted 'No' in the referendum did so because they considered AV to be an insufficient change."

It is important to remember that this was a vote between AV and FPTP. The result does not indicate that people oppose any sort of electoral reform, but rather that they were not convinced with AV specifically. Reasons for a 'No' vote are not as simple as 'No to Electoral Reform' — some will have voted 'no' because they will accept nothing less than full Proportional Representation. The Party hopes that — to ensure a strong, and representative Westminster — this type of electoral reform will be explored in the near future.

The Pirate Party believes that this referendum was based more on fear, lies, and mud-slinging with a focus on a negative attitude and imaginary issues, rather than on facts, logic, reason or civilised debate. The manner in which it was contested was of a deplorable standard and a poor reflection on the current state of British politics which all involved should be ashamed of.

The Pirate Party will continue to press for voting methods to be brought to at least 20th Century standards.