A Referendum On Electoral Reform?

Why? If you think that it's the right thing to do, then why not do it anyway?

The legislation being suggested would require a referendum next year, after a General Election would have to have been held. This Election is going to result in a hung Parliament, and it may very well see the Tories with more votes but Labour with more seats.

Cue the Holy Grail: a Yes campaign featuring the Lib Dems, the ruling half of Labour, and at least a sizeable minority of the Tories, who would be speaking for extremely disgruntled Tory voters. People would think that they were voting for PR, but not for one of those party list kinds which would give them even less power than they have at present. So they would duly vote Yes.

But what is being proposed is not PR. It is the Alternative Vote. Half a loaf is better than none? Perhaps. But undoubtedly, a quarter of a loaf is worse than half.