Lib Dems press Labour for PR

The Lib Dems called for a bill to be brought forward

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have warned Labour not to stand in the way of reform of the voting system for council elections.

The party unanimously backed a motion, at its spring conference in Perth, urging early action on the introduction of proportional representation.

The Lib Dems want the next local government elections to be the last under the first-past-the-post system, believing proportional representation to be fairer and more accountable.

Jim Wallace reiterated his desire to see PR

The party has called for the introduction of a Scottish Parliament Bill about voting reform before May next year.

The demand follows publication of a White Paper last month which offers consultation, but no guarantees, on PR voting in elections to local authorities.

PR voting is a key Lib Dem goal, and a commitment to progress on this forms part of the written coalition deal between Labour and Liberal Democrats.

In his keynote speech to the conference on Saturday, party leader Jim Wallace said: "The elections in 2003 must be the last to be fought using a first-past-the-post system."

He said "considerable advances" had been made in recent months, with a timetable for making progress agreed with Labour, and a White Paper last month.

The Lib Dems want to see reform here

"PR in the Scottish Parliament has made a difference - but PR in local government will sweep away the edifice of municipal cronyism and transform and revitalise council chambers the length and breadth of Scotland," he said.

Meanwhile, the party's president has challenged Prime Minister Tony Blair to call a referendum on the euro.

In the closing speech of the party's conference in Perth, Malcolm Bruce warned that any decision about joining the single currency would be better than continuing uncertainty.

Mr Bruce also came to the defence of environment minister Ross Finnie, who was defeated by conference when it called for a moratorium on GM crops.

He told delegates that while he shared people's distaste for GM produce, he did not want to stop a technology which could be beneficial.