Having lost the argument and having been consistently out organised by our grassroots volunteers, the guardians of the old politics have been reduced to dirty scare stories and smears to try and score a cheap political point.

Bordering on the disturbing, the No campaign took out a two-page advertisement in the Birmingham Mail claiming that a sick baby “needs a new cardiac facility NOT an alternative voting system”.

This is a shocking and shameful tactic aimed at misleading the public and manipulating the masses. Implying that the public must chose between an alternative voting system and frontline services is wrong – plain and simple.

We have to put a stop to this now.                      

We need the Advertising Standards Authority to issue guidance on this campaign, and fast. Co-sign our letter to the ASA today:

http://www.yestofairervotes.org/ASA-cosign-now

Unsurprisingly, this is not the first time we have seen the No campaign play on voters’ fears.

Just last week they claimed that AV would force the UK to spend £130 million on magical electronic counting machines. This neglected one simple fact – there are absolutely no plans to introduce electronic counting machines – there never were!

Voters deserve, and are more than entitled to legal, decent, honest and truthful advertising campaigns. I think you will agree that these adverts fail on every count.

Please join us in calling for the ASA to step in to ensure we can get on with the debate this country and you the electorate deserve.

Say Yes to AV, Say Yes to Fairer Votes.

• Read more: 10 reasons to support AV.
• Independent Leading Article: A dishonest campaign that deserves to lose.

UPDATE: We’ve been asked by the Advertising Standards Authority to discourage people from contacting them directly about this as they are a small organisation.  Have your say instead by signing our letter.