OXFORD City voters bucked both the national and the county trend by backing a change to Britain’s electoral system last night.

Voters outside the city overwhelming rejected changing the voting system from the current first past the post to the Alternative Vote (AV) system by a ratio of more than two-to-one.

And nationally voters said No to a switch in the referendum – called as part of the deal brokered by the Liberal Democrats when they entered the Coalition Government a year ago.

But Oxford City was one of the ten areas (with only one district to still declare its result) where people marked Yes for a switch to AV – a system where candidates are listed in order of preference.

Oxford required two recounts before declaring 21,693 Yes votes and 18,395 No.

Victorious county councillor Arash Fatemian, who campaigned against AV, said: “I am pleased that the overwhelming majority saw the advantage of first past the post and chose to back that system.

“This is a clear indication that the people back first past the post.

“It makes candidates work harder than AV.”

Asked about Oxford bucking the national and county results, he said: “You’re always going to have pockets of areas supporting Yes.”

Campaigner Chris Carrigan, the chairman of Yes to Fairer Votes Oxford, was happy with the city result but disappointed overall.

He said: “Whereas everywhere else the No campaign managed to mislead people, here in Oxford we got the message across.”

Fellow Yes campaigner Laura Gordon, 26, from Headington, added: “Obviously we are all pretty disappointed with the national result but we are delighted with the win in Oxford.

“Oxford’s status as a bastion of progressive thought has been confirmed.”

The No campaign forecast it would put to bed any electoral changes for the next 20 years.

The Yes campaign conceded defeat before the final few results were announced last night.

Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron said the referendum produced a “clear and resounding” result but insisted the coalition would survive for the remainder of its five-year term.

But the result wounds Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. He said: “I wish I could say this was a photo finish but it isn’t, the result is very clear.

“I’m a passionate supporter of political reform but when the answer is as clear as this, you have got to accept it.

“This is a bitter blow for all those people, like me, who believe in the need for political reform.”

Results

Cherwell 12,944 Yes; 30,925 No

Oxford 21,693; 18,395

South Ox 14,776; 33,565

Vale 14,740; 30,510

West Ox 10,766; 26,739

Oxon Total 74,919; 140,134