It would be smart politics for Labour to back AV

The exact line from Labour on the AV referendum which is likely to be called for May 5th next year is not yet clear. That is perhaps unsurprising given that they are still in the middle of choosing their next leader.

The Miliband brothers seem the most unequivocal in their support for AV. Ed Balls is a bit less full-throated in his support and seems to be trying to position himself in such a way as he could back off from supporting it if he so wished. Abbott and Burnham have both been fairly dismissive of AV (although recently, perhaps sniffing the wind Abbott seems to have changed her tune somewhat) but they are the least likely to succeed.

You would expect me to say that Labour should be in favour of a change. They had 13 years to change the electoral system at Westminster and did not do so. Now is their chance, finally to back it. Jack Straw, one of the principal defenders of FPTP in the previous Labour cabinet has been going around doing his best to make the case against change. There are also other Labour figures who do not want change. There is a risk that they could hijack the debate within the Labour Party.

There are a number of reasons why the party really should be in favour of AV:

1) It was in their manifesto. I know that some will accuse me of hypocrisy given that there was lots in the Lib Dem manifesto that did not end up in the coalition programme but we have had to compromise. Labour is not in such a position and are free to campaign as they choose therefore they will need a very good reason to do an 180 degree turn on this issue just a few months after the election. If they campaign against AV it risks looking like playing politics.

2) Labour consider themselves to be a progressive party. There are often arguments over exactly what this word means but I think a good argument can be made that AV is progressive. It will ensure more people's votes count against the final result thus ensuring the levels of disenfranchisement we have seen for decades will be reduced. The relentlessly negative campaigning we regularly see (of the "Vote X to keep out Y") variety will be rendered largely ineffectual. It will also ensure that at least 50% of the voters in each seat have expressed a preference for the MP. I think they will find it hard to make the progressive case for retaining FPTP. Indeed Left Foot Forward, the Labour leaning self-styled progressive blog has already come out in favour of AV.

3) In those constituencies where Labour and the Tories are close they have traditionally been more likely to get second preferences from Lib Dem supporters who in many cases would ultimately have their second preferences count in the final ballot for one of the two larger parties under AV. I know that the coalition has thrown up an historically rather anomalous situation with the Lib Dems in partnership with the Tories and it is difficult to know exactly how this will pan out but if Labour are smart about how they position themselves in the next few years there is no reason why they should not still be well placed to pick up lots of second places from the Lib Dems. Which brings me to my fourth point...

4) If they campaign against AV then they are basically burning their bridges with the Lib Dems and making a future Labour/Lib Dem coalition or alliance all the more difficult. Even under FPTP it is getting more and more likely that hung parliaments will occur. Under AV they would be even more likely as analysis suggests that the Lib Dems would get closer to their fair share of seats and hence be more likely to hold the balance of power. Allied to this, if they campaign for AV they will be playing clever wedge politics aligning themselves with the Lib Dems in government and isolating the Tories leaving them as the only major party arguing against change.

5) Polls show a majority in favour of changing from FPTP to AV. Admittedly there is a long way to go between now and next May and it is not guaranteed to pass, however it is looking the most likely outcome. Political parties like to be on the popular and winning side in arguments like this. Hence if the referendum passes Labour can appear to be in the political ascendency once more.

I get the feeling that some within Labour are still quite shell-shocked at having lost power and at the fact that the Lib Dems have gone into government with the Tories. Their political instincts are telling them to throw as much mud as possible at the government and to try and wreck its programme if they possibly can. I suppose that is what oppositions traditionally do so I can't complain too much.

But Labour have an opportunity to be so much smarter than this. They should keep their tribal instincts at bay and play this situation for maximum political gain.

That requires them to back a "Yes" vote in the AV referendum.