Labour playing around with Fair Voting - again.

Gordon Brown is to offer MPs a vote on holding a referendum to scrap the first-past-the-post electoral system in favour of the alternative vote.

He is expected to announce the move in a speech to the Institute for Public Policy Research in London today, with the vote taking place as early as next week.

The measure is likely to be included as an amendment to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill, currently going through Parliament.

Reports last night indicated that Brown had secured the support of senior cabinet ministers, and will attempt to convince the rest of the cabinet this morning in advance of his speech.

If passed the referendum would take place in the next Parliament, following the general election expected on May 6.

It had been widely believed that the plans had been pushed down the agenda, after a Bill to introduce electoral reform was cut from November's Queen's speech.

Brown first floated the possibliity of scrapping the first-past-the-post system in his speech to the Labour PArty conferene in Septmeber 2009.

The surprise move on electoral reform comes as a poll shows the Conservative lead over Labour has been cut to seven points, raising the prospect of a hung Parliament.

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