Cameron draws flak for allowing referendum on electoral system

London: David Cameron faces a showdown with Tory MPs furious at his decision to give the green light for a referendum about ending Britain's traditional electoral system.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will announce on Tuesday that the vote on changing from "first past the post" to the alternative vote (AV) system will take place on May 5 next year, the day that voters in Scotland and Wales go to the polls.

Tory backbenchers will demand that the Prime Minister plays an active role in the "No" campaign and insist that the Conservative Party helps fund their fight to keep first past the post. They accused him of caving in to Clegg's demands for an early referendum on electoral reform to placate Lib Dem anger over the VAT rise in the Budget.

Tory rebels threatened to vote against the forthcoming referendum bill or amend it to change the date of the poll. Former minister Bernard Jenkin warned that holding the vote on the same day as the Scottish and Welsh elections was a bid to help the Lib Dems win the referendum as both countries already have a form of proportional representation.

Jenkin has been selected as a spokesman for irate backbenchers when they meet Cameron next Wednesday.

One member of the backbench 1922 Committee said: "We will be pushing for a clear statement of where Mr Cameron stands, because it is far from clear. And we want Central Office to provide funding for the campaign."

Under the AV system, voters list the candidates in order of preference.