Clegg facing double blow as Tories revolt on vote reform

DEPUTY Prime Minister Nick Clegg is facing humiliation with his bill on electoral reform which could see him forced to change the date of a referendum and set a threshold for a minimum turnout.

• Picture: PA

The Scotsman has learned that Scottish Labour backbencher Thomas Docherty is to table an amendment to change the date of the proposed referendum on introducing alternative vote system (AV) for general elections.

The move is expected to win enough backing from Tory rebels to defeat the coalition government.

Mr Docherty's amendment is being put down with the full support of his party's leadership after angry Tory backbenchers approached Labour promising to back a change of date.

The developments came as the government yesterday laid down the referendum bill in parliament, stating the referendum "must be" held on 5 May 2011, which opponents noted was a much harder line than the normal "will be".

Tories from all wings of the party are livid that Mr Clegg insisted on pressing ahead with holding the referendum on the same day as the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly elections, despite them telling their whips the weekend before that they are opposed to it.

The Scotsman has also learned that another rebellion is brewing over setting a minimum turnout threshold.

Senior Tory backbencher Bernard Jenkin is preparing to publish two early day motions (EDMs) demanding a change of date and that the referendum would be only valid with a minimum threshold, probably 40 per cent, of voters turning out.

It is understood that Mr Jenkin has already garnered a long list of more than 100 signatures including some senior figures and distinguished former ministers.

One Tory backbencher, who has promised to put his name to the EDMs, told The Scotsman: "This was not the usual suspects, there were names there which made you think this was a serious proposition."

A source close to the rightwing Cornerstone group added: "There is substantial support for these EDMs, enough to force the government into a retreat on the date at least."

A number of Tory MPs from differing wings of the party have made it clear to The Scotsman they will back a change of date.

One Cameron supporter said: "There is no doubt that if Labour puts down an amendment, which is properly worded then it will win."

Another added: "This is not about scuppering the coalition deal or the referendum, it is about amending it properly."

It is understood that Labour are reluctant to support a threshold because they did not put one in place for the devolution referenda.

Memories of the 1979 devolution referendum where a majority for a Scottish assembly was discounted because a bar of 40 per cent turnout had been set by the Callaghan government, still haunt the party.

However, Labour are keen to change the date of the referendum because of concerns over clashing with the 2011 devolved elections.

Mr Docherty, the MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, has been given the nod to put forward an amendment in the hope that it will encourage an expected Tory rebellion.

They believe that putting the referendum down in the name of a Scottish MP will underline the problems of holding it on the same day as other elections..