On Saturday, Godalming played host to the first of three public debates on the upcoming AV referendum. Local MP Jeremy Hunt argued “yes to fairer votes but no to unfair AV” against Sagar Deva from the Yes to fairer votes campaign at the Wilfred Noyce Community Centre. The debate was chaired by Canon Revd Mervyn Roberts from St Peter and St Paul’s Church. The audience were presented with ten minute opening statements from each side and then given the opportunity to comment or question from the floor. Jeremy argued that AV was dangerous, wrong and unprincipled whilst Sagar argued that it would lead to a better democratic system. The debates were a good opportunity for people to learn more about the referendum on May 5th where the country will go to the polls to decide whether to change from our current voting system First Past the Post to the Alternative Vote.
After the debate Jeremy said: “We had a great debate with a good turnout - and it was refreshing that it was not party political. I am really worried that this change would reduce the accountability of MPs to the people who give them their jobs and make hung parliaments the norm - but Mervyn Roberts made the best point of all when he said it is a privilege to be able to have this kind of debate at all when so many parts of the world are not even democracies."
There will be two further debates over the next month and Jeremy is strongly encouraging people to come along and both listen to and contribute to the debate. The next meeting is on Friday 15th April at 7pm in St Martin’s Hall, Farnham and the final debate is on Thursday 28th April at 7pm in the Georgian House Hotel, Haslemere. For more on Jeremy’s campaign see www.jeremyhunt.org/no2av