The AV referendum was foisted upon us as the price for Lib Dem support in forming a coalition government.
As the last, desperate gasp from Gordon Brown’s bunker as he hung onto power after the last election, it was always a bad idea.
The first past the post principle of one person, one vote, is clear, simple and fair.
We vote for the candidate we support and the one with the most votes wins.
This forges a direct link between the people and their representative at Westminster.
The result is strong, accountable government, held to its promises.
Should those promises be broken, the voters can elect a new government with new ideas.
Contrast this with AV.
The one man, one vote principle is lost.
If the first vote does not reach the 50% needed to elect a new MP, lower preferences will count.
Depending upon the voting round reached, one man may have two, three or more votes counted.
This gives some voters more say than others. And some fringe parties more weight than they deserve.
Hung Parliaments - rare now - will become the norm.
Back room deals, after the ballot box has closed, will give more power to politicians and less to voters.
Coalitions will make it easier for politicians to wriggle out of manifesto commitments.
The MP-voter connection will be diluted by the need for the broadest possible appeal.
And elections will bring no great change.
Finally, the cost of all this will be prohibitive.
Vote no to AV