This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Independent Commission on electoral arrangments
09/02/2004
First Minister Jack McConnell and Deputy First Minister
Jim Wallace today commented on the establishment of an
independent commission to review Scottish electoral
arrangements.
The commission was announced today by Alistair Darling,
the Secretary of State for Scotland. The commission will
examine the consequences of having four different systems
of voting in local and Parliamentary elections in Scotland
and different boundaries between Westminster and Scottish
Parliament constituencies.
It will look at the potential impact different voting
systems and boundaries will have on:
• voter participation
• relationship between public bodies and authorities in
Scotland and MPs/MSPs
• representation of constituents by elected members
The First Minister said:
"The Independent Commission is a sensible and welcome
approach to dealing with the range of complex issues that
changes to boundaries and voting systems has highlighted. I
am concerned about the level of turnout in Scottish
elections and it is important that the Commission examines
these issues from the perspective of electors, rather than
the political parties.
"The Commission will be a good vehicle for identifying
and building any consensus for change and I look forward to
receiving and considering its findings in due course."
The Deputy First Minister commented:
"The announcement of the Independent Commission is a
welcome one that offers people the prospect of an electoral
system that gives them greater choice, while remaining true
to the principles of the Constitutional Convention and
reducing the number of electoral systems employed in
Scotland.