'Lib-Dem dream will be lost if voters shun poll reform'

The Liberal Democrat dream of electoral reform will be lost for a generation if voters reject it in next month's referendum, Vince Cable admitted today.

The Business Secretary said it was unlikely that Britain would be asked again how it wants to elect its MPs.

With fears turnout could be as low as 15 per cent in the capital, the Twickenham MP urged Londoners to have their say as he argued for a switch to the alternative vote system. "With no other elections here on May 5, you may not be fussed at going to vote," he told Standard readers before a debate tonight.

"But this is the first time we've ever been asked for our say on how we elect our MPs and we're unlikely to be asked again. Get out and vote, make sure London has its say and don't let the rest of the UK decide. Say yes to fairer votes."

He argued that AV is needed because the existing first-past-the-post system often "no longer works properly".