Lib Dems stage Yorkshire coast fair votes action day.

7.14.38pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 20th May 2005

Local Liberal Democrats and Green Party members are running an action day to protest at Britain's unfair voting system and add to the nationwide campaign for electoral reform.

The 'Make Votes Count' campaign on Saturday 21 May will be in Whitby in the morning and Scarborough on the afternoon. They will be collecting signatures for a petition to Tony Blair calling for electoral reform and handing out literature explaining the importance of fair votes.

It follows a vigil outside the Queen's Speech in Westminster where protesters taped their lips shut to show that the first-past the post- voting system denies millions of people a voice in elections. A poll in the Independent newspaper states that 62% of the country is now in favour of voting reform.

Tania Exley-Moore, parliamentary spokesperson for Scarborough and Whitby Liberal Democrats said: 'It's hardly surprising that many people don't see the point in voting: the electoral system is stacked against your vote counting unless you live in a marginal constituency.'

'That's got to change. Before the election, the Labour Party talked a lot about improving turnout. Well, they can make good on their long-broken promise to hold a referendum on electoral reform, and give people a reason to vote.'

'The right to elect a government is a precious thing. Our electoral system corrupts it. This government claims to be progressive, so it's time that for once Tony Blair walked the walk and made all our votes count.'