Radio Debate on Fairer Votes

On 27 April, Chair of Chinese Lib Dems Merlene Emerson took part in a radio debate at the studio of Spectrum Radio in Battersea on the AV referendum. DJ and former MEP Candidate Steven Cheung and Joseph Wu of BC Project co-hosted the lively and at times heated hour and a half debate which will be broadcast over the weekend.

The panel also included Sonny Leong (speaking in his own capacity and not for Chinese for Labour), Conservative Cllr Thomas Chan and Director of Operation Black Vote, Simon Woolley.


Merlene busted the arguments and myths coming from the No camp, as they had suggested the AV system would be too complicated, was expensive (no counting machines will be needed) and might allow minority parties to dominate.

"We would not normally pass a student who scores 3 out of 10, yet most MPs are elected on a minority of the votes. In AV we are merely asking that candidates be required to get 5 out of 10 or 50% of the votes in order to be elected" said Merlene. Simon Woolley, also arguing in favour of a change to AV system, stressed that AV is a more democratic system as it will ensure more people will have their votes counted and politicians will have to reach outside of their traditional voter base to minority communities.

Where all parties were agreed was that the Chinese and other migrant communities need to vote in the coming referendum and to become more engaged in politics. They each shared about what their parties were doing to encourage voter participation and to find candidates for future elections.