What will the Alternative Vote mean for Bristol?

Press release issued: 27 April 2011

An Alternative Vote (AV) debate, What will the Alternative Vote mean for Bristol?, organised by the University of Bristol's School of Sociology, Politics, and International Studies and the Centre for Public Engagement will take place at the Watershed, 1 Canon's Road, Harbourside, Bristol BS1 5TX on Tuesday 3 May at 8 pm.

Local people will have the opportunity to hear both sides of the argument and contribute to the debate at an AV event organised by the University of Bristol’s School of Sociology, Politics, and International Studies (SPAIS) and the Centre for Public Engagement. The debate What will the Alternative Vote mean for Bristol? will take place at the Watershed, Harbourside, Bristol on Tuesday, May 3 at 8 pm.

Speakers will debate and provide an in-depth examination of the issues for and against electoral reform. They will illustrate the possible impact AV might have on Bristol and on who could be elected to represent the South West following the next general election. The panel will also discuss the future of regional politics and invite questions on the issues that matter to the audience.

Mark Wickham-Jones, Professor of Political Science at the University of Bristol, said: “When the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats put together the coalition agreement they underestimated just how problematic the referendum would prove to be.

“The Lib Dems have a strong presence in the South West but a poor showing in next month’s local elections could mean party members reconsidering their position. I believe a split in the party is not unthinkable.”

The debate will be chaired by Judith Squires, Professor of Political Theory and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law, with contributions from the Director of Cheltenham Conservative Business Forum, Dr Rashmi Misra, TV presenter Tony Robinson, and Mark Wickham-Jones, Professor of Political Science in SPAIS.

The event is free, but booking is required. For further information and to book a place contact Diane Thorne in the University’s Centre for Public Engagement, tel (0117) 331 8318 or email cpe-info@bristol.ac.uk

Further information

What will the Alternative Vote mean for Bristol? will take place at the Watershed, 1 Canon’s Road, Harbourside, Bristol BS1 5TX on Tuesday 3 May at 8 pm. The event has been organised by the University of Bristol’s School of Sociology, Politics, and International Studies and the Centre for Public Engagement.

The School of Sociology, Politics, and International Studies (SPAIS) is an interdisciplinary research and teaching environment with over 50 academic staff, where prominent sociologists and political scientists, cutting-edge theorists and world-leading empirical researchers share ideas and engage in lively debate across the School in seminars, lectures and workshops.

The Centre for Public Engagement (CPE) supports and promotes public engagement with research and teaching across the University. This involves running programmes of public talks and festivals, and helping academics to engage with the public by working with them to attract funding, providing appropriate training and facilitating collaboration with partners outside the University.

Please contact joanne.fryer@bristol.ac.uk for further information.