Matthew Elliott, the co-founder of pressure group The TaxPayer’s Alliance, has stepped down from the day-to-day running of the organisation to head up the “No to AV” campaign. Mr Elliott had this to say on the matter:

“Having spent the past five years campaigning alongside you against expenses abuses by MPs, I know that you share my belief in accountable and transparent politics, which shifts power from politicians to the people. The AV electoral system would be a step backwards on all of these fronts, making politicians less accountable and elections less transparent.”

“From a taxpayers’ point of view, I am also disturbed to learn that the referendum is going to cost us £100 million. Britain therefore especially needs and deserves an effective ‘No’ campaign, and this is why I feel it should be the focus of my attention from October.”

He will now be working from www.no2av.org against the controversial proposal, though they are yet to get their site up and running.