Alun Michael MP responds – and is less than straight-forward on Lords reform!

The Cardiff South and Penarth MP Alun Michael has reacted to being targeted by our deepening democracy campaign by calling us "unscrupulous and immoral".

This of course has gone down badly, especially with my mum who always insisted that she brought me up to be a good boy. Well, I suppose we'll get over it!

However, Alun Michael's response in the South Wales Echo, which reported his comments and allegations, also goes on to say that he is in favour of reforming the House of Lords. Great news!

But if so, why did Alun Michael vote against the proposal on the 7th of March 2007 that there should be a House of Lords made up of 50% elected and non elected members? Even Tony Blair was in favour of this proposal!

In fact Michael voted for a fully appointed House of Lords that would perpetuate a chamber full of cronies, donors and ex-MPs on the make.

Alun Michael doesn't make any comment about his inconsistent position in respect of voting reform.

This is a subject Mr Michael has commented on on his website. Whilst he recognises that he himself has benefitted from PR to become Wales first First Minister, it seems he is no longer a fan of fairer voting.

And another thing. We check our facts at Power2010 but we don't check in with MPs to see if it's ok to disagree with them as Mr Michael appears to want us to.

The Power2010 team in consultation with our supporters and other interested partner organisations selected the six MPs highlighted in our ‘Wanted' campaign.

They were then carefully checked on their voting record on the 5 reforms on our Pledge - you may call this a series of "very arbitrary tests", but the 5 reforms were decided democratically following 100,000 votes.

The campaign has been running since January and dates back to the earlier Power Inquiry headed up by Barnoness Helena Kennedy.

Yet, Alun Michael has told the South Wales Echo that we had have never been in contact with him.

So please tell us Mr Michael, when your voting record speaks for itself and your decision to oppose a key and well know aspect of the Pledge, why should we come knocking on your door?

Surely you have a responsibility to all your constituents to keep up to speed with what is going on in the real world as well as within the Westminster bubble.

We will continue to keep the pressure up on all the other roadblocks to reform and we are also engaging postively with voters and candidates across the country to ensure the next parliament is a reforming one.

You might think that holding elected politicians to account makes us "unscrupulous and immoral" but it is not us who misled the public about your voting record.

You did that yourself. So isn't it time you came clean?

Iestyn Davis is the POWER2010 organiser in Wales.