Diana Johnson, Labour MP for Hull North

I am Hull North’s local Labour Member of Parliament, representing the Hull wards of Avenue, Beverley, University, Bransholme East, Bransholme West, Orchard Park and Greenwood, Bricknell, King’s Park and Newland. This website highlights a small fraction of my work for Hull North.
Email a friend about this site  Email a friend about this site   Text size  Small Text Regular Text Large Text
22 April 2011: To The Guardian - published 4 May 2011

Dear Editor

Nick Clegg (Report, 22 April) describes those sceptical about the deeply flawed AV system as "dinosaurs" and "vested interests" opposed to "pluralist politics". AV, first devised in 1871, is not exactly a trailblazer for modernity.

If Nick Clegg genuinely wants a pluralist "new politics", it was ironic that he whipped Lib Dem MPs through the lobby last October to block 16- and 17-year-olds having a vote in the AV referendum. Indeed, while forging his new politics in the coalition negotiations, Clegg pushed somewhat harder, in the name of Lib Dem "vested interests", to get AV without a referendum than he did for Lib Dem election promises on tuition fees, police numbers and VAT.

The evidence-free claim that AV would force MPs to "work harder" is not without irony. My average working week is around 70 hours. Do London Assembly members (Letters, 22 April) find their electoral system inspires them to work more than 70 hours a week?

Diana Johnson MP
Labour
Hull North
home | contact | disability access | it compliance | privacy statement | labour.org.uk

Designed and built by Tangent Snowball. Hosted by Rackspace, 2 Longwalk Road, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, UB11 1BA.
Hosted by Rackspace, 2 Longwalk Road, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, UB11 1BA.