Scots step closer to Holyrood and AV votes on 5 May, 2011

SCOTTISH voters look almost certain to make their choice on radical changes to the way the country elects its MPs - on the same day they are asked to elect a new parliament at Holyrood.

A bid to prevent the referendum on the alternative voting system being held on 5 May 2011 was defeated by 326 votes to 264 in Westminster late last night.

Realistically only the Lords stand in the way of the AV referendum date being confirmed as 5 May.

The bill, which was being debated last night at the committee stage, still requires the formal approval of the full house. However, last night's vote makes any further change in the Commons extremely unlikely.

However, Constitutional Reform Minister Mark Harper found himself under fire from both Tory and Opposition MPs over the plans.

He explained the coalition wanted to hold the plebiscite on replacing first-past-the-post with the alternative vote system at an "early opportunity" so voters would know what system they would be using for the 2015 general election.

He insisted the government had found a "balance" between moving quickly and allowing MPs time to debate the plans - despite accusations that the move is being rushed.

Under provisions in the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, the referendum will be held on 5 May next year - the same day as voters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland elect members of their devolved legislatures and many areas of England have council elections.

The date of the referendum has been met with fierce criticism, amid concerns it undermines the importance of the devolved legislatures and could skew the results in those areas where other elections are being held.

Several amendments were tabled calling for the date to be moved, including by a group of Tory backbenchers.

During debate on the time-tabling of the bill, ahead of committee stage discussion, SNP's Angus MacNeil said that the coalition's preferred date was "unbelievable".He said: "The current proposed date of the referendum makes this referendum frankly a squatter in another's house, perhaps even a parasite.

"It is quite unbelievable that in all the dates chosen, that the concerns of others with the current UK are completely overlooked and disregarded."

He added: "The handling of the specific issue on the timing has been at best, insensitive and insulting, going to high-handed and even cack-handed."

"In Scotland we have already moved our council elections by a year so they do not interfere with the parliamentary elections and of course vice-versa."

He said he feared that holding the referendum on the same day as elections to the Scottish Parliament could be a "slippery slope" and be used to "hijack" the outcome of future elections.

Tory MP Charles Walke also voiced scepticism: "Bearing in mind there is not going to be an election until 2015, surely there is just not that much of a rush to get this through the House."