Representatives from the YES and NO campaigns for electoral reform debated the question: "Should independent candidates and their supporters support the yes campaign, the no campaign or abstain by spoiling their ballots, not voting or writing something else on their referendum paper?"

Dr Lee Rotherham, a campaigner for No2AV and Deborah Grayson, from Yes to Fairer Votes debated electoral reform before an audience of independent councillors and their supporters from across the country. Brian Ahearne, Director of the Independent Network, chaired the debate.

Brian Ahearne said:  “This is an important debate to win.  Thousands of independent local election candidates and their supporters are knocking on doors and talking to residents.  If either side of the debate is able to persuade these independently-minded politicians to support their campaign they will have gained themselves important regional allies.”

Lee Rotherham, campaigner for NO2AV said: "The AV referendum is only a few weeks away. Well done to the Independent Network for arranging what is a key debate.

“As someone who started out working for an MP who resigned the party whip on a matter of principle, I'm strongly aware of the importance of the free thinkers in politics. So I'm delighted to have this opportunity to persuade independent councillors that the system on which they have been elected - first past the post - is a far better electoral system for the country than the flawed alternative today on offer."

Deborah Grayson, campaigner for Yes to Fairer Votes, said: "The Alternative Vote system is good for Independent candidates because people can actually vote for the person they want, rather than just making a tactical decision about who they think can win. I campaigned for an independent candidate in the general election last year, and it was really frustrating that the conversation so often came down to 'who can win here?' rather than 'what are the issues that are affecting you?’ MPs will also have to work harder as they'll need to reach out beyond their party base to get support from 50% of the electorate. Independent candidates work hard for every vote - it's about time that candidates from the main parties did, too."

A video of the debate will be posted on our youtube channel by the end of next week. 

The feeling from the independent candidates was – unsurprisingly – mixed with approximately one third supporting AV, one third planning to vote against AV and the final third undecided.