Again perhaps it is fortunate for advocates of reform that Jenkins proposes as little disturbance to the idea of the local MP as possible. So even after experiencing PR in action voters in Scotland and Wales do not necessarily have consistent views. Consequently their attitudes towards reform of elections to the House of Commons de pends entirely on how they are asked. Well over half agree that PR should be introduced so that the number of MPs each party gets matches more closely its share of votes. But well over half also take the view that we should keep the existing system because it produces more effective government.
Electoral reform appears to have many good tunes.
But they will need to be played well if the public are to be persuaded that Westminster should follow the path that London, Scotland and Wales have already trodden. John Curtice is professor of politics at Strathclyde University.