“Power2010’s voters sent a clear signal about what they view as the single most important reform: proportional representation, the vote leader from day one.

“It wasn’t pundits, think tankers or a cabal of MPs who decided this – but ordinary people who recognised that PR is the best medicine for a sick democracy. Opponents on both sides of the House of Commons should sit up and take note.

“Whatever position people take on the other pledges that were runners up in the Power2010 ballot, we must not allow candidates who ignore the groundswell for fair elections off the hook. A pick and mix approach to these pledges may let many of our MPs off the hook.

“Real reform of parliament is divisive. When parliamentarians had their chance to support a referendum on PR, not a single Conservative, and only three Labour MPs supported the amendment on the Single Transferable Vote. Our friends at Power do not want their pledge to end up a get out a jail free card for politicians too scared to make the changes our politics so desperately needs.

“Voters have been given a fantastic range of reforms to choose from. It is unwise now to let candidates duck the issue that came top of the poll.