Two votes in one day?

So...(subject to it clearing parliament) a date has been set for the AV referendum. The result of any such vote is far from certain, but before either side has even begun to get organised, there is already a lot of grumbling about the date.

It seems that if you are in Scotland, it will 'overshadow' your parliamentary elections, and if you are in an English council who elect that day you are at an advantage over the areas that won't elect that day.

Come on people, get real.

It won't overshadow anything. It will be a separate vote, on a separate issue. It doesn't matter if there are local elections on that day - everyone will get to vote in the referendum. If people are not minded to walk a few hundred yards to vote in it, just because there is no council election, then so be it.

There will be much written on the rights and wrongs of AV over the next few months - but this grumbling about the date is way off the mark.

It is also interesting to note that Labour are already crying foul over plans to make parliamentary seats the same size. Hardly a surprise, when the current system hugely favours them - but a bit rich from a party who promised a 'future fair for all'. Clearly they meant 'slightly fairer if you happen to live in a smaller seat in the North'