'No To AV' Campaign Outspent Rival 'Yes' Camp By £1m

'No To AV' Campaign Outspent Rival 'Yes' Camp By £1m

The successful campaign against changing the British electoral system outspent the rival 'Yes' campaign by more than a million pounds.

According to the Electoral Commission, the groups campaigning against ditching the first-past-the-post system combined spent £3,472,213, compared to the £2,209,748 spent campaigning in favour of the Alternative Vote.

In May 2011 voters overwhelmingly rejected proposals to change the voting system for Westminster elections by 67.9% to 32.1%.

Most of the money spent campaigning against the change was by the official 'The No Campaign Ltd' who funneled £2,598,194 into the effort.

The Conservative and Unionist Party contributed £660,785 and the 'No to AV, Yes to PR' group that opposed AV in favour of a proportional representation system spent £21,150.

On the 'Yes' side, the official 'Yes in May 2011 Ltd' organiastion spent £2,139,741. The Liberal Democrats, who secured the referendum as part of the deal that brought them into government, spent £62,782.

The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland donated £345 and and individual, Mr Alan Edward Rayner, spent £304.

The Conservative Party was opposed to the change, but a Conservative 'Yes' camp did spend £6,576.

The Labour Party was split on the issue despite Ed Miliband supporting the change. And while party's 'No' camp spent £192,084 opposing any change, the official Labour 'Yes' campaign spent £0.

According to the Electoral Commission the total amount of money spent was £5,681,962.

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