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17 January 2011
Last updated at 14:57 ET
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Live coverage from the House of Lords as peers debate reform to the voting system
Peers could face a series of all-night sitting as the government attempts to force its plans to reform the voting system through Parliament.
Ministers have until mid-February to ensure a referendum on bringing in the alternative vote (AV) system can go ahead on 5 May, as planned.
But peers have already spent eight days going through the bill enabling this, to which Labour has raised objections.
Lengthy Lords sittings are expected over the next three days.
During this period, peers will consider in detail proposed amendments to the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill.
AV, which would replace the first-past-the-post system for Westminster elections, allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference.
'Had their fun' But Labour wants the bill to be split up, so that the planned referendum on changing to the voting system does not go through Parliament at the same time as proposals to alter the boundaries - and reduce the number - of MPs' constituencies.
The party argues that the coalition is trying to hinder its chances at future elections, but ministers say the changes to seats are needed to make the system fairer and cheaper.
Opening the peers' debate, Lords leader Lord Strathclyde said the bill had already spent too long going through Parliament, having first been introduced to the Lords last November.
Continue reading the main story WHAT IS ALTERNATIVE VOTE
Under the AV system, voters rank candidates in their constituency in order of preference.
Anyone getting more than 50% of first-preference votes is elected.
If no-one gets 50% of votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their backers' second choices allocated to those remaining.
This process continues until one candidate has at least 50% of all votes cast.
He said: "The opposition have dragged their feet. They've had their fun."
He added: "The situation has become urgent because the Labour Party has decided to go on a marathon go-slow since we started the committee [to consider the bill]."
But Labour's Lord Falconer said: "This bill is motivated by party politics... It has been introduced without public consultation or pre-legislative scrutiny."
He added: "The bill runs to over 300 pages... It's unlikely in the extreme that, uniquely among bills, it cannot be improved further by this house."
The parliamentary authorities have reportedly made arrangements for peers to stay over in the building in the event of all-night sittings, including setting up camp beds for those needing to rest during the debate.
Linking the two issues of an AV and constituency changes was an element of the coalition negotiations, with the Tories determined to get boundary reform while the referendum was a central Liberal Democrat demand.
Lord Falconer said: "We urge the government to think again about splitting the bill... My experience is that widespread consultation will provide a solution."
Labour proposed an amendment to the bill to overrule the government's plans to reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600.
But this was rejected without a vote, after a debate lasting four hours.
Other proposed changes to the legislation could take many hours to debate.
Under the AV system, voters rank candidates in their constituency in order of preference.
Anyone getting more than 50% of first-preference votes is elected. If no-one gets 50% of votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their backers' second choices allocated to those remaining. This process continues until one candidate has at least 50% of all votes cast.
The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, which has already been voted through by MPs, would need to gain Royal Assent by 16 February to allow the referendum - scheduled for the same day as Scottish, Welsh and local elections - to go ahead on time.
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Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.Live coverage from the House of Lords as peers debate reform to the voting system
Peers could face a series of all-night sitting as the government attempts to force its plans to reform the voting system through Parliament.
Ministers have until mid-February to ensure a referendum on bringing in the alternative vote (AV) system can go ahead on 5 May, as planned.
But peers have already spent eight days going through the bill enabling this, to which Labour has raised objections.
Lengthy Lords sittings are expected over the next three days.
During this period, peers will consider in detail proposed amendments to the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill.
AV, which would replace the first-past-the-post system for Westminster elections, allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference.
'Had their fun' But Labour wants the bill to be split up, so that the planned referendum on changing to the voting system does not go through Parliament at the same time as proposals to alter the boundaries - and reduce the number - of MPs' constituencies.
The party argues that the coalition is trying to hinder its chances at future elections, but ministers say the changes to seats are needed to make the system fairer and cheaper.
Opening the peers' debate, Lords leader Lord Strathclyde said the bill had already spent too long going through Parliament, having first been introduced to the Lords last November.
Continue reading the main story WHAT IS ALTERNATIVE VOTE
Under the AV system, voters rank candidates in their constituency in order of preference.
Anyone getting more than 50% of first-preference votes is elected.
If no-one gets 50% of votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their backers' second choices allocated to those remaining.
This process continues until one candidate has at least 50% of all votes cast.
He said: "The opposition have dragged their feet. They've had their fun."
He added: "The situation has become urgent because the Labour Party has decided to go on a marathon go-slow since we started the committee [to consider the bill]."
But Labour's Lord Falconer said: "This bill is motivated by party politics... It has been introduced without public consultation or pre-legislative scrutiny."
He added: "The bill runs to over 300 pages... It's unlikely in the extreme that, uniquely among bills, it cannot be improved further by this house."
The parliamentary authorities have reportedly made arrangements for peers to stay over in the building in the event of all-night sittings, including setting up camp beds for those needing to rest during the debate.
Linking the two issues of an AV and constituency changes was an element of the coalition negotiations, with the Tories determined to get boundary reform while the referendum was a central Liberal Democrat demand.
Lord Falconer said: "We urge the government to think again about splitting the bill... My experience is that widespread consultation will provide a solution."
Labour proposed an amendment to the bill to overrule the government's plans to reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600.
But this was rejected without a vote, after a debate lasting four hours.
Other proposed changes to the legislation could take many hours to debate.
Under the AV system, voters rank candidates in their constituency in order of preference.
Anyone getting more than 50% of first-preference votes is elected. If no-one gets 50% of votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their backers' second choices allocated to those remaining. This process continues until one candidate has at least 50% of all votes cast.
The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, which has already been voted through by MPs, would need to gain Royal Assent by 16 February to allow the referendum - scheduled for the same day as Scottish, Welsh and local elections - to go ahead on time.
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