OPPOSITION politicians were last night defeated in their bid to scupper a proposed ban on Assembly candidates standing both in constituencies and on party lists. The Government claims voters do not understand how candidates defeated in first-past-the-post contests can get elected to the Assembly "by the back door". In the 2003 elections three losing candidates in the Clwyd West constituency were still elected under proportional representation on the North Wales list. A ban on dual candidacy is a central plank of the Government of Wales Bill which receives its third reading in the House of Commons today. But Plaid Cymru, Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs last night united to oppose the Government's ban, accusing Labour of attempting to rig the system in favour of its own candidates. Meirionnydd Nant Conwy Plaid Cymru MP Elfyn Llwyd slammed the proposal as "specious and nasty". He added: "I really do not believe that this change has been proved to be necessary. It will benefit Labour and not the other parties." He said he had not had a single complaint from a North Wales voter about the dual candidate system. But Wales Office minister Nick Ainger said: "Voters clearly do not understand how defeated candidate can be elected through the back door on the regional list. "This will give voters the right to reject a candidate." The Government defeated a Tory amendment to scrap the ban by 283 votes to 205 - a majority of 78. | 
