"My Lords, I find it very strange that the party that seems to be supporting first past the post is the one that is refusing first past the post in a referendum. If you win by one in a constituency at the moment, you have won. However, if you win …..." Lord Roberts of Llandudno - View Speech
"That is not, of course, what we say. It is the argument of a coalition of dinosaurs who say that in the old days you could have just two parties in a constituency. As I have argued before, one is bound to get 50 per cent. If you have 6.3 …..." Lord Roberts of Llandudno - View Speech
"My experience in Wales is that, as we have argued time after time, a referendum held on the day of local elections in England and elections for the Assembly in Wales, for Parliament in Scotland or for the Assembly in Northern Ireland would naturally have a greater turnout. Therefore you …..." Lord Roberts of Llandudno - View Speech
"The noble Lord speaks of massive constitutional changes. Was not the decision to remain in Europe a massive constitutional change? There was no threshold...." Lord Roberts of Llandudno - View Speech
"I am most disappointed by the noble Lord’s Answer. The Parliament Bill became an Act on 18 August 1911 and a century has gone by. With all the talk of reform, should we not at least set a deadline of 18 August or a date close to it—I do not …..." Lord Roberts of Llandudno - View Speech
"May I ask the noble Lord whether a party getting 23 per cent of the votes deserves 23 per cent of the representation?..." Lord Roberts of Llandudno - View Speech
"Is the Labour manifesto for the last election not explicit that the AV referendum should be before October 2011?..." Lord Roberts of Llandudno - View Speech
"Will the Leader of the House confirm that, as the alternative vote was a manifesto pledge of the Labour Party, when we come to discuss it next Monday and following from then, that party will stand firm on its commitment to the alternative vote?..." Lord Roberts of Llandudno - View Speech